History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c31.s3.38

v2.c31.s3.38

Allahâbâd was a more favourite residence of this monarch than Agra, perhaps as much so as even Fathpur-Sîkrî; but the English having appropriated the fort, its glories have been nearly obliterated. The most beautiful thing was the pavilion of the Châlîs Sitûn, or forty pillars, so called from its having that number on the principal floor, disposed in two concentric octagonal ranges, one internal of sixteen pillars, the other outside of twenty-four. Above this, supported by the inner colonnade, was an upper range of the same number of pillars crowned by a dome. This building has entirely disappeared, its materials being wanted to repair the fortifications. The great hall, however, still remains, represented in the annexed woodcut (No. 426). It was turned into an arsenal; a brick wall was run