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The Musk Palace ( Miya Misakh Mahal) in Golconda

Miyan Mishk Mahal in Atapur
A 300-year-old building into a heritage site
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
S.T. Coleridge


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Miya Miskh palace
A three-storied garden pavilion with waterways, gardens and fruit
trees enclosed in a 10-acre area and you can see the Golconda fort on
one side, the Musi on the other and the Charminar on the other. This was
the creation of Miyan Malik Mishk, the commander of Carnatic forces
of Abul Hasan Tana Shah in 1678.
A multi-storied structure, The upper storey was meant for Mishk's
zenana as it is enclosed by a wall of seven-feet high with another
staircase leading to the open roof also enclosed by a low wall which was
probably meant for rest and sleep in summer months. The building that
is surrounded by shrubs and brambles, a foul smell hits you. Earlier, the
address of the building would be a detour from the Karwan road. Now, it
is a detour on the road leading to the Shamshabad Airport. The location
is the same, but the address has changed.
One book describes it: Mishk Mahal as it is called is built in the
middle of a vast area of about 10 acres surrounded by a high wall all
around with two gateways, one facing north and the other facing south.
Reach the area and it becomes obvious that this 10 acre land is the bane
of the structure. The whole area is transformed into a trap and blue
plastic tented city with the Mishk Mahal. Ironically, for all the stink, the
building is called Mushk Mahal by the neighbours. Only years back, the
description was: There is no doubt that the vast enclosure contained
myriad water channels (the remains of which are still visible) and fruit
trees. Ten years back, The Hindu reporter wrote: The first floor having
a stone corniced roof with projected brackets is in a slightly better shape,
at least from outside, though the inside walls have been vandalised
beyond recognition.
It was sometime in March-April 1674 that Abul Hasan Qutb Shah
issued a Farman giving large tracts of land to his Abyssinian guard
Miyan Malik Mishk in mauza (village) Atapur. Not much is known
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about Miyan Mishk beyond his honorific title of Commander of Carnatic
Forces, the functional title of Keeper of the Royal Key and his name
Malik a corruption of mamluk used by former slaves. And in the absence
of any effort at upkeep of this pleasure palace, it will blend into the dust
of history.
The story of musk palace is very interesting and so the readers will
find it not only interesting but also a very strange story of the Golconda
dynasty and its history.
It was the time of dawn and still, the plate of golden colour was not
rising in the sky and like squadron of the army with the flag , and with
tambourine with staff, kettle drum and drums. There was blowing the
morning cold breeze which was moving slowly before the king of the
light in the white sky.
At that time at the bank of river Musi some persons were moving on
their horses slowly there. At that place some foundation work of the
construction of the palace was in progress. Near that sight one
caravan was camping there in the tents.
The young man who was on his mashki (black) horse in between the
horse riders and who was asked his fellow riders about the construction
details on the site and he was also asked what the caravan is doing
there. The royal courtier by folding his hands told him that when this
city was habituated then from that time courtiers were beginning
construction their palaces and for this reason, in the night in the city,
there is find too much illumination everywhere, so for this reason
every night is become like a festival night. Also due to your favour and
kindness the day time in the city is becoming the time of Eid (festival)
also.
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This caravan belongs to the unfortunate merchant who had travelled
long distances of the journey with his large quantities of musk in the
hope of selling in the Golconda kingdom. That person asked him is
there no purchaser was available to purchase the musk loads of the
merchant in the city?. The courtier said yes, there are many purchasers
are there, but the merchant has too much stock of musk on the camels
that which is not possible by any royal courtiers to purchase such a large
quantity of musk in Golconda city . The horsemen told him to call the
merchant in his presence. When the merchant came there, then he was
asked the details of his journey and his stock of musk. The merchant told
him that Your honour he came to the kingdom before many times for
the selling of his goods there. The king of this kingdom is great patron
so for this reason no merchant did not leave disappointed from this
place. But I do not know my unfortunate fate was also moved with my
goods during my long journey. I am having many camels' loads of musk
with my caravan that due to large stock it is not possible to purchase
such great quantity of musk by the ruler of Bejarpur and Shahjehanabad
(Delhi) with a combine. With great hope we have halted in Golconda for
the sale of the musk here, but it was known that some months before
here the musk was already purchased in larger quantity and for this
reason there is no need to purchase of musk for coming many years here.
We have tried our best to meet the king of Golconda so that due to
kindness and favour he will purchase some of the quantity of musk and
due to his generosity he did not use to return us disappointed in this
matter. He was stopped for a while and continued his discussion further
and he said your honour you are also Amir (courtier) and if you provide
us a chance to meet the ruler of Golconda then I will offer in your
service one camel load of musk. Upon hearing this phrase the Amir
(ruler) said to his companion to tell the merchant to see him at his
palace today in the afternoon near the window at the market. So for this
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reason the merchant was surprised in this matter and he did not ask the
name of the Amir (courtier).
In the the afternoon the merchant crossed the bridge and stand near
the tower, which connect the bridge of Golconda with Hyderabad city.
That bridge was very famous all over the world and it was not only
famous in the east, but in the west it was also well known and such
beautiful bridge was not yet constructed there. The bridge was saying by
its mouth that there were many powers and strength of floods came and
gone and there were revolutions of the centuries were there but it was
standing firmly there.
At that place merchant was standing and thinking that to enter into
the city three days are required for getting the permit for the travellers
and merchants to visit the Golconda fort, so what is his position will be
there in the city and that whether his luck will help him there as he did
not have any recommendations or any source in this matter. The
merchant was thinking in this matter and he was worried due to the
problem of selling his large quantity of musk in the city of Golconda. At
that time he was seen that one gipsy was coming there and he asked him
to follow him. When he reached in the market area and when he was
looking at that royal window, then he was surprised in this matter upon
seeing the king of Golconda kingdom was there.
At that time the merchant observed that there was a simplicity which
was available there in the morning time with the ruler and but now in
the afternoon there was a great show of royal pomp was there and large
number of the persons were there with applications in their hands to
submit in the presence of king so the king was issuing orders on the
applications of the members of the public in this matter. When the king
looked at the merchant then the king was called the store officer of the
fort and ordered him to purchase all quantities of the musk of the
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merchant and to pay its price immediately. When the store officer of the
fort by folding his hands told the king, Your majesty as per your order
large quantities of musk was already purchased before and all stores are
full of it. So where this new quantity of musk will be kept there.
The king said, This merchant came to the kingdom after travelling
long distance of journey in many months and since long time he is
staying in the kingdom with is hope that we will purchase his musk. So
we do not want him to return back with disappointment from our
kingdom. The king ordered the merchant to pour down all musk
quantities in the foundation of the palace of that Amir (courtier) which
we have visited today on his morning walk there. On the next day all
quantities of musk were pouring down by the musk merchant in the
foundation of the musk palace which belongs to Miya Mishk. After that
the caravan of that merchant was not seen there. But till now that place
in the Goldconda area in Atapur village is known as Musk Mahal and
about these details one reference is available in the book Saire
Golconda by Dr. Mohiudin Quaderi Zur on the page 12-16 and some
more details of the Musk palace is added at the beginning of the episode.

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator Muslim Saints and Mystics
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid al-din Attar)
& Kindle, Amazon book author