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Visible from the upper storeys of the various buildings is a distinctive tower (1y) some 21 m high, the Hiran Minar (‘Deer Tower’; see fig. 5). It stands near the now dry lake and the Hathi Pol (‘Elephant Gate’; see fig.1f above) to which it is connected by a stone-paved ramp. The lower part of the tower is octagonal, the middle section circular. At the top is a balcony supported by stone corbels and a crowning octagonal chatrī. Access is by an inner spiral stair. The circular portion of the tower is spiked with stone projections resembling elephant tusks. Local lore has it that this is the burial place of Akbar’s favourite elephant. It was probably a measuring point for a chain of mileage markers (kos minār) that were set along main roads. It may also have served as a viewpoint for matches on the polo ground, laid out along the lake, or elephant fights, held near by. The name seems to date to the time of Jahangir, who is recorded as having established a deer park in the open area around the tower. Possibly the Persian hayr (‘enclosure’ or ‘park’) was transmuted to hiran (Hindi: ‘deer’).exterior, 1984