The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c18.127

v2.c18.127

In the *Ain-i-Akbari*, mention is made of a nine-storeyed palace build in Cuttack by Mukunda Deva, in the middle of the 16th century. The description runs thus: ‘In Cuttack there is a fine palace, built by Raja Mukund Deo, consisting of nine storeys. The first storey is for elephants, camels and horses; the second for artillery and military stores, where also are quarters for the guards and other attendants; the third is occupied by porters and watchmen; the fourth is appropriated for the several artificers; the kitchens make the fifth range; the sixth contains the Raja’s public apartments; the seventh is for the transaction of private business; the eighth is where the women reside; and the ninth is the Raja’s sleeping apartment’⁴⁵. Commenting on this passage Mr. Fergusson says, ‘As Orissa at the period when this was written was practically a part of Akbar’s kingdom, there seems little doubt that this description was furnished by some one who knew the place. There are seven storeyed palaces at Jeypur and Bijapur still standing, which were erected about this date, and of five storeys in Akbar’s own palace at Futtehpore Sikri, but none, so far as I know, of nine storeys, though I see no reason for doubting the correctness of the description of the one just quoted’⁴⁶.