FATEHPUR SIKRI

The magnificent city of Fatehpur Sikri, about 34 km from Agra, was established by the Mughal Emperor Mohd. Jalaluddin Akbar, in the year 1569. It was the capital of the Mughal Empire for 14 years from 1571 to 1605. Akbar had no child until his son, who became known as Jahangir, was born in the village of Sikri in 1569. Akbar began the construction of a religious compound in honour of the Chisti saint Sheikh Salim, who had predicted the birth of Jahangir. After Jahangir's second birthday, he began the construction of a walled city and imperial palace.

The city was founded in 1571 and was named after the village of Sikri which occupied the spot before. The Buland Darwaza was built in honor of his successful campaign in Gujarat, when the city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri - "The City of Victory". It was abandoned by Akbar in 1585 when he went to fight a campaign in Punjab. It was later completely abandoned by 1610. The reason for its abandonment is usually given as the failure of the water supply, though Akbar's loss of interest may also have been the reason since it was built solely on his whim. 

 Akbar visited the city only once in 1601 after abandoning it. During the epidemic of  plague from 1616 to 1624, Jahangir stayed for three months here in 1619. Muhammad Shah stayed here for some time and the repair works were started again. However, with the decline of Mughal Empire, the conditions of the buildings worsened.

Before, Akbar constructed this place for himself; it was the princely state of Sikarwar Rajput king who later settled in Kheragarh and Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.

The Fort’s Lay Out and architecture

Fatehpur Sikri is the best example of Indo-Islamic architecture. The Fatehpur Sikri mosque is said to be an imitation of the Mecca Masjid and its designs are derived from Hindu and Zoroastrian architecture. The city was built by Akbar under his own supervision.

Fatehpur Sikri sits on 40 meter high rocky ridge, 3 kilometres  in length and 1 km wide and palace city is surrounded by a 6 km wall on three sides with the fourth bordered by a lake.

The dynastic architecture of Fatehpur Sikri was modelled on Timurid Style. The city's architecture reflects both the Hindu and Muslim form of domestic architecture popular in India at that time. The remarkable preservation of these original spaces allows modern archaeologists to reconstruct scenes of Mughal court life, and to better understand the hierarchy of the city's royal and noble residents.

Fatehpur Sikri reflected Akbar’s design and architectural philosophy. This “Akbari” style of architecture consisted of a synthesis of earlier styles, Timurid, Persian and Indian. The lavish use of red sandstone sought to minimize the stylistic clashes consequent to the mixing of these desperate elements.

The emperor”s own interest in the construction was all consuming: “He even queried stone himself, alongside the workmen” says Father Monserrate, the Jesuit priest who visited the city in 1580. Built by a ruler in a short span of fifteen years, there was thus a certain architectural coherence as a courtly centre.

In 1585, the English traveler Ralph Fitch visited the city and wrote,” Agra and Fatehpur are two very great cities, either of them much greater than London and very populous.”

Some of the important buildings in this city, both religious and secular are:

·         Buland Darwaza: Outside the giant steps of the Buland Darwaza, to the left is a deep well.

·         Jama Masjid:

·         Tomb of  Sheikh Salim Chishti:

·         Birbal’s Palace

·         Palace of Jodha Bai

·         Diwan-i-Aam: 

·          Diwan-i-Khas:

·         Anup Talao complex: Anup Talao was built by Raja Anup Singh Sikarwar. An ornamental pool with a central platform and four bridges leading up to it. Some of the important buildings of the royal enclave are at its periphery, including,  (i) Khwabgah (House of Dreams) Akbar's residence, to its left is (ii) Palace of Ruquiya Beghum, (iii)  Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience),  (iv) Khazana or Ankh Michauli  and the Astrologer's Seat, (v) Panch Mahal, a five-storey palace and near the Anup Talab, in the open court yard is the Pachisi Court.