Jamat Khana Fatehpur Sikri

Jamat Khana

Jamat Khana was the assembly hall situated on the eastern side of the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, where his disciples used to pray and carried out their religious practices. It is built in red sandstone and is surrounded by charming perforated screens. Sheikh Haji Hussain arranged the religious functions to be held here until his death in 1591, after which he was buried in the southwestern corner of the building. Since then, it became the graveyard of the Sheikh's followers and houses twenty-four graves. There are Quranic inscriptions on some of these graves and the pen box or the turban was used to mark the graves of the men while a flat bard called takhti marks the grave of the women.

The square building has a I m high platform and is enclosed with an arcaded verandah. Each façade has seven bays while the beautifully carved entrance door in the middle of the central façade leads to a courtyard. The central chamber looks square from outside but is octagonal from inside and houses the tomb of Islam Khan, who was the grand son of Sheikh Salim and also the Governor of Bengal. Thus, this chamber is also known as the tomb of Islam Khan. The unique feature of the building lies in the 36 small domed kiosks that surrounds the central dome making its roof look quite elegant. Badshahi Darwaza on its eastern side is situated on Yaran Chabutra or Friends' Platform, which houses the graves of other disciples of Shiekh Salim Chishti.