Fatehpur Sikri

The city was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar, and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585 After his military victories over Chittor and Ranthambore, Akbar decided to shift his capital from Agra to a new location 23 miles W.S.W on the Sikri ridge, to honor the Sufi saint Salim Chishti. Here he commenced the construction of a planned walled city which took the next fifteen years in planning and construction of a series royal palaces, harem, courts, a mosque, private quarters and other utility buildings. He named the city, Fatehabad, with Fateh, a word of Arabic origin in Persian, meaning “victory.” it was later called Fatehpur Sikri It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born. Fatehpur Sikri is one of the best preserved collection of Mughal architecture in India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to contemporary historians, Akbar took a great interest in the building of Fatehpur Sikri and probably also dictated its architectural style. Seeking to revive the

splendors of Persian court ceremonial made famous by his ancestor Timur, Akbar planned the complex on Persian principles. But the influences of his adopted land came through in the typically Indian embellishments.

The imperial Palace complex consists of a number of independent pavilions arranged in formal geometry on a piece of level ground, a pattern derived from Arab and central Asian tent encampments. In its entirety, the monuments at Fatehpur Sikri thus reflect the genius of Akbar in assimilating diverse regional architectural influences within a holistic style that was uniquely his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fatehpur Sikri is a beautiful place to visit as it is less crowded than Taj Mahal. Inside the sikri you will find dargah where as per muslim religion , you donate a holy chadar and

tie a thread to ask for a wish .  It provides a nice vibe as local artisans are selling marble collectibles, some of them are unique to this place & a lot of singers can be found chanting and playing several musical instruments to create a lively feel on your visit.

It is advisable to keep two days in Agra , one day can be spent in visiting the Taj Mahal & the second day is preferable to visit Fateh PurSikri which is like a 30 – 45 minutes drive from Agra.

You should try out the local biryani , as it would be something different from what you normally get in the cities.