The Panchakki or the Water mill,
located at Aurangabad, was built in the early years of the 17th century,
by the Muslim Sufi Saint Baba Shah Musafir. The complex of Panchakki
had been a place of external abode of the great Sufi Saints who flocked
to India in 12th Cent A.D. The sufi's were the Muslim saints, influenced
by the spiritual philosophy of the Vedanta, the Sufi movement in India
is reminiscence of secularism. The Panchakki, is a calm and peaceful
place that visualizes the life that existed in the medieval period.
Visitors having sensitive imagination, may hear the beats of drum and
the humming noise of the people moving around the complex.
The water flows down through clay
pipes based on the Siphon system from the distance of 11 km. This marvelous
water mill wax designated to generate energy to turn the large grinding
stone, serving as a flour mill.
The Panchakki with all its glories
and enchantments has a unique place in the history.In fact it was the
residance of populer saint " Baba Shah Musafir ". The panchakki
has its own underground water channel, having the source some where
towards the North of the city about 8 Kms. away in the mountains. The
construction of this water channel from the main source to the Panchakki
was started during the life time of saint " Baba Shah Musafir "
some time in the year 1624 A.D...
The complete water channel is
made up of earthern pipes finely lined up and at appropriate distances,
masonary pillers are errected which serve as natural suction pumps to
make the water flow through the pipes with force through the distance
of 8 Kms. Finely, the water rises " syhonically " to a huge
elevated masonary piller from where it falls down into the main cistern
to make an attractive " Water Fall ".