About Abdar Khana:
Abdar Khana is situated to the north of Anup Talao. Though people believe that it was once used as the girls’ hostel, historians put its use as a water storage house. They state that in the time of purdah system, where women could not show their face to any stranger, there is no logic behind housing them in a building in the main palace complex where men were received because it would have invaded their privacy. It is said that it was built to store drinking water for Akbar. Akbar drank only water of River Ganges and thus it was kept preserved for him in the sealed jars that were cooled using some reagents. The walls of this double storeyed building are composed of a series of piers and have deep shelves with arched screens to store water jars and tropical fruits for the king such as melons, mangoes and grapes.
General Information about Abdar Khana:
Location: Fatehpur Sikri
State: Uttar Pradesh
Capital: Lucknow
Language: Hindi, English
Temperature: Max 42˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 26˚C, Min 14˚C (winter)
Best Season: October to February
How to Reach Abdar Khana:
By Air:
Kheria airport in Agra is the nearest airport from Fatehpur Sikri. Domestic flights are available to Agra from important places of India. From the airport, you have to reach Fatehpur Sikri via road route.
By Train:
Nearest major railway station is located in Agra. Agra railway is served by large number of express trains from important places of the country. Taj Express, Shatabdi express and several other trains are available from Delhi to Agra. Trains are available at regular intervals between Agra and Fatehpur Sikri.
By Bus:
UPSTDC, ITDC and other private operators arrange conducted tours to Fatehpur Sikri, but the tour buses stop only for an hour. If you want to spend longer time at Fatehpur Sikri it is better you take a regular bus from the Idgah Bus Stand.