@audreytruschke I had been to Fatehpur Sikri which was about 22 km from the Bharatpur National Park during my research days. Loved his courtyard. They said, that he had his handmaidens stand as chess pieces in the checkered courtyard for a game of chess.
@orphean_warbler The whole handmaiden-as-chess-pieces bit has always struck me as a bit outlandish. But, Akbar did have a lot of wives and concubines in his harem. In fact, he had so many wives that the ulama objected it was unIslamic, going against the limit of four wives. Akbar clashed with the ulama on many issues.