‘Machhi Bhawn’ (translated as ‘fish building’) was a fort with twenty six doors and each of which was adorned by a pair of fish, as it is customary in all Awadh buildings. A total of 52 fish adorned the doors and gates of this palace. There is also a version that believes each fish had a beautiful eyebrow and ‘eyebrow’ in vernacular is called ‘Bhavanr’ thus it took a distorted name of ‘Bhavan’ which means a large building. Though whatever the reason is, in both cases, fish were a central theme.

 

It was only after Machhi Bhawan that all buildings in Awadh were adorned by a pair of fish on its gates, doors and facades. Even the royal insignia and the stamp had fish on them, while till date the government of Uttar Pradesh in free India uses fish in its official emblem, on letterheads and official seals....