Fatehphur Sikri

Recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO, Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Lying on top of a 708 m high ridge, 40 km west of Agra, the city over 430 years old still retains its charm and stands as a perfectly preserved example of Mughal architecture and splendour. 

Legend says that Akbar, despite having many wives, had no living heir. The children born to him had all died in infancy and he made a pilgrimage to Sikri in Agra to see the Muslim Saint Shaikh Salim Chishti. The saint predicted that the Emperor would have three sons. His blessings came true and Akbar had three sons, namely Salim popularly known as Jehangir, Murad and Daniyal. Akbar was so impressed that he build an entirely new capital in the village of Sikri to show his gratitude to the Sufi saint. 

In 1569 AD, Akbar ordered a great mosque and a palace to be built under Salim Chishti's supervision and later on some magnificent palaces, courtyards and high battlement walls were constructed. And Akbar named the city Fatehpur (Fateh means victory) Sikri, marking his victory over Gujarat in 1573.  But unfortunately, the city which reached the zenith of glory was abandoned and Akbar moved his capital to Lahore in1585. The difficulties with the water supply is assumed to be the reason for the shifting. 

Fatehpur Sikri is enclosed on three sides by 50 feet high, 9 km long battlement walls built of red sand stone, and by an artificial lake on the other side. There are seven big gates namely Ajmeri Gate, Mathura Gate, Chand Darwaza, Suraj Gate, Birbal Gate, Gwalior Gate, Lal Darwaza and Agra Gate. 

Most of the buildings in the city are made of red sandstone and are a mixture of Hindu, Jain and Mughal Architecture. The city is divided into two parts, the Palace Complex and the Mosque Complex. The Mosque complex, houses the Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid and the tomb of  Salim Chishti and the Palace complex houses Diwan -i -Am, the Diwani - i- Khas, Jodha Bai's Palace, Birbal's House, Mariam's House, the House of Turkish Sultana, Panch Mahal etc.