Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a city of Muhal era built by the great Muhal Emperor Akbar. Though the court took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years because the water supply was unable to sustain the growing population. Today, the complex of buildings, including the extant royal palaces, courts and the Jama Masjid is a popular tourist attraction, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Fatehpur Sikri sits on rocky ridge, 3 km. in length and 1 km. wide, and palace city is surrounded by a 11 km wall on three side with the fourth being a lake at the time. The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarat and Bengal. This was because indigenous craftsmen from various regions were used for the construction of the buildings. Influences from Hindu and Jain architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements.

palace inside fatehpur sikri

huge hall inside fatehpur sikri

roya court of akbar in fatehpur sikri

windows carved from marble stone

Outside world turns into a mosaic when looking through the pierced marble screen of Sheikh Salim tomb in Fatehpur Sikri

inside fatehpur sikri palace

Fatehpur Sikri was the political capital city of the Mughal (Mogul) Empire from 1571 until 1585 during the rule of Akbar the Great (builder of the Taj Mahal). It was eventually abandoned when the water sources dried up and the Mughal Empire moved it's capital to Lahore in modern day Pakistan.

window of the palace

pillars made of sandstone in fatephur sikri

jama masjid famous tourist destination in agra

By emperor • Architecture, Mosque, Palace, Uttar Pradesh • 1 • Tags: , , ,