Panch Chakki – A Medieval Water Mill at Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
Panch Chakki is a religious tourist spot situated at one end of the city of Aurangabad. It is famous for two things: First, the dargah of Hazrat Shah Mussafir and second, the medieval water mill that used to grind wheat. This big historical monument with the grave of Hazrat Baba has an attached mosque, a naaguarkhana (musical house), a mussafirkhana (where the Waqf board office is currently housed), a sacred pond and a water wheel run by water brought through pipelines from aquifers located far off from the city.
The Panch Chakki is visited by both Muslims and Hindus alike. But, during my visit, I spotted more Muslims. May be because Muslims constitute the majority population in the surroundings of the dargah. But, the highlight of my visit was the medieval water mill that functions even today, though is not used to grind wheat anymore.
