Ankh Michauli

Ankh Michauli, which means blind man's bluff house, is located is located at the northwestern side of the adminstrative complex. It derives its name from the popular belief that Akbar played "hide and seek" with members of his harem here, although this is highly unlikely, given it is an administrative area where women in seclusion would not be frolicking! Most likely it was the treasury, in which case hide and seek would be a very dangerous game to play with the emperor's riches. The walls of the building contain deep recesses and secret coffers sunk in the walls, which were most probably used for keeping gold and silver coins and other valuables; it is believed that the gold coins were locked in the coffers, while the silver was kept in bags heaped on the floor, or locked in wooden boxes. The building is composed of three oblong halls of equal size. The building has high and simple ceilings, with the ceiling of the central hall supported by beams, and which are further supported on the beautifully molded struts. The bottom of each strut is shaped into the head of a truncated monster. These are called  makar struts and contain images which, according to Hindu legend, are the monsters who serve as guardians of treasures. Adjacent to the Ankh Michauli an elegant kiosk rises from a small extension of the platform on which the treasury of gold and silver coin stands. Called the "Astrologer's Seat," legend ascribed this kiosk to an astrologer or yogi, whom Akbar used to consult in his political matters, but this too is unlikely. Proximity of this kiosk to the treasury house suggests that the emperor most probably sat there on ceremonial occasions to watch the distribution of copper coins to pay his subordinate officers and other deserving people. The most remarkable feature of this kiosk are the torana  brackets found on its four sides. These a brackets often adorned the doorways of Hindu temples; the brackets contain carvings of mouths of the monsters guarding the treasury. The bracket is divided into 11 separate bands containing exquisite carved designs.