Fatehpur Sikri

FatehpurSikriFatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपूर सिकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The historical city was constructed by Mughal emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire’s capital from 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned for reasons that remain unclear. The surviving palace and mosque are a tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

History

Akbar had inherited the Mughal Empire from his father Humayun and grandfather Babur. During the 1560s he rebuilt the Agra Fort and established it as his capital. With his Hindu wife Mariam-uz-Zamani he had a son and then twins, but the twins died. He then consulted the Sufi Saint Salim Chishti from the Chishti Order who lived as a recluse in the small town Sikri near Agra. Salim predicted that Akbar would have another son, and indeed one was born in 1569 in Sikri. He was named Salim to honor the saint and would later rule the empire as Emperor Jahangir. The following year, Akbar, then 28 years old, determined to build a palace and royal city in Sikri, to honor his pir Salim Chishti. The tomb of Salim Chishti, “Salim Chisti Ka Mazar” was built there within the grounds of the Jama mosque.

The name, Fateh is of Arabic origin and means “victory”, also in Urdu and Persian; Mughal Emperor Babur defeated Rana Sanga in a battle at a place called Khanwa (about 40 KM from Agra).

Fatehpur Sikri shared its imperial duties as a capital city with Agra, where a bulk of the arsenal, treasure hoards, and other reserves were kept at its Red Fort for security. During a crisis, the court, harem, and treasury could be removed to Agra, only 26 miles away, less than a day’s march.

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born. The legendary musician Tansen is said to have performed on an island in the middle of the pool Anup Talao. A strong belief comes across from generations that a tunnel from here stretches to Delhi and from there to Lahore and on the other end to Agra. Due to nonmaintenance, the tunnel had been closed in 1952 at approx 500m.Innovations in land revenue, coinage, military organisation, and provincial administration emerged during the Fatehpur Sikri years.

Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned in 1585 and the capital moved to Lahore. The reasons for this remain obscure; it is possible that water sources dried up or that Akbar needed to be closer to invading Persian and Afghan armies.

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

Important buildings

The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarati and Bengali. 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. The building material predominantly used is red sandstone, quarried from the same rocky outcrop on which it is situated.

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

  • Anup Talao: A tank with a central platform and four bridges leading up to it.
  • Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence): One of the gateways to the Jama Masjid, a stupendous piece of architecture from the outside, gradually making a transition to a human scale in the inside.
  • Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience): A building typology found in many Mughal cities where the ruler meets the general public. In this case, it is a pavilion-like multi-bayed rectangular structure fronting a large open space.
  • Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience): Famous for its central pillar with thirty-six voluted brackets supporting a circular platform for Akbar. It is here that Akbar had representatives of different religions discuss their faiths.

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

  • Hujra-i-Anup Talao (Small Chamber of Anup Talao): Said to be the residence of Akbar’s Muslim wife, although this is disputed due to its small size.
  • Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque): The mosque, built in the manner of Indian mosques, with liwans (aisles) around a central courtyard. A distinguishing feature is the row of chhatris (small domed pavilions) over the sanctuary.
  • Mariam-uz-Zamani’s Palace: The building of Akbar’s wife shows Gujarati influence and is built around a courtyard, with special care being taken to ensure privacy.
  • Naubat Khana (Drum House): Near the entry, where important arrivals are announced.
  • Pachisi Court: A square marked out as a large sized board game (modern day Ludo) where live coins- people- participated.

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

  • Panch Mahal: A five-storied palatial structure. The bottom floor has 176 intricately carved columns.
  • Raja Birbal’s House: The house of Akbar’s favorite minister, who was a Hindu. Notable features of the building are the horizontal sloping sunshades or chajjas and the brackets which support them.
  • Sunahra Maken: The residence of Akbar’s Christian wife.
  • Tomb of Salim Chisti: A white marble encased tomb within the Jama Masjid’s courtyard.

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

FatehpurSikri

52 comments to Fatehpur Sikri

  • its very nice to see, thanks for this mail

  • Ranjana

    The photographs remind us all of the simple yet technical lifestyle of the Mughals. The above mentioned tunnel is a sheer example. There are also other instances of how, in the Agra fort, the waters of Yamuna was filled into the hollow walls which airconditioned the rooms. Akbar was a great ruler who didn’t differentiate or discriminate any religion. He gave the talented and the notorious, both, their worth. The Mughals have brought with them the feature called ‘arch’ in our country’s architecture. These monuments reminisce about the richness in the Moslem culture.

  • Sher Suleman

    Yes, a great historic treasure and a rich legacy of the Great Moghuls. A treat for anyone to see and visit. Thanks for this good turn to Funonthenet participants. Best regards: Sher Suleman

  • priya mohini

    when shall we go to fatehpur sikri, my soul?

  • Hussain

    Really Marvelous & great. I should start for a visit at the earliest Insha Allah

  • Mohammed Siddique

    wonderful place, we should visit to this historical city atleast once in our life.
    after seeing these pictures i eager to visit India at earliest.

  • fatehpur sikri, buht khubsurat hai kash me wahan ja sakti

  • idrees

    Have visited this fantastic place. One of the conjectures is that it was simply an error of judgment on Akbar’s part as after the Suris and the Rajasthani escapades, he felt it to be matter of importance to shift court to central India, delhi being a bit too up north. Realizing the difficulties of governance as the populated centers/politically more sensitive areas up north then became extended in reach, he reverted to Delhi. Capital was where the emperor was. he had to address issues due south and west and for that he moved court to Agra and lahore for a time.
    Wish the interior of the saint’s tomb was also shown because it being made from the mother-of-pearl would reflect the devotion in creating this masterpiece of craft.
    id

  • very nice

    Regards,

    Nanasaheb Jivrak.

  • nagesh

    If you read the history of the place one gets really interested to visit the place undoubtedly.Worth visitng..
    snageshkamath

  • balachandran c v

    very nice places.Iam also intrested to visit these places.

    Balachandran.

  • Really a beautiful historical place History is only the recognition of a Nation.

  • Manik Nakate

    Fantastic. Appreciable. It is only in India.

  • Suresh Kamati

    Muze bhaut accha laga. Yaisa hi dikhate rahiye.

    AApka Suresh babu

  • Manik Nakate

    India is famous in the world for this kind of Historic places. I like very much.

    Manik Nakate

  • Manik Nakate

    When should we plan for this Historical Place. We cannot make such type of places, at least we should visit.

    Manikrao

  • Manoharan

    Nice collections. Feeling jealous that I am unable to do. Will try my best to do the kind of work and make you all happy. Thank you

  • A Nice & beautiful Shot

  • gay3

    So nice pixs.Thanks alot.

  • c s patel

    must visit place
    left long long lasting impration on my life
    went there in 1976 but still like i was there yesterday

  • J.S. Sharma

    very good to know about histroy

  • very good story. It has a value for educating one in a unique way

  • yes it is must visit place and i would like to visit again & again

  • Dr A.R.A.Munshi

    An excellent Email with Plenty of Information.Although i went there in 1957,i still remember most places.My photographs are nowhere near these remarkable ones,which do full justice to this historical place.

  • rizwan

    thanks for the information

  • vinoth

    Very nise picture

  • vinoth

    Nice &beautiful

  • yogesh

    veryyyyyyyyyyyy nice photos

  • Mind blowing,

    truely amazing, I would be waiting for go there.

    I am coming Fatehpur.

    Limesh

  • KHALID SIDDIQUI

    Excellent photographs of these Historic Exquisite places which enchant all of us. I am really grateful to thouse
    whose efforts brought these real pictures to the new generation to feel and remember the past .
    Really I am fascinated. > Khalid Siddiqui >>from QATAR.

  • Excellent &mindbogling infomation. Congrats

  • vijayan nair

    I visited Fathepur Sikri and Agra Fort and have its vivid memory. Seeing all that here roused my sweet memories. They are eternal poetries in architecture.

  • Ram

    its good to see, waiting for go there…… hope so i will go there in last of november w

  • If you read the history of the place one gets really interested to visit the place undoubtedly.Worth visitng..
    SAHIL

  • sikander hayat

    We South Asians owe a lot to Mughals.Hindustan without Mughals would not have been what its today.Lets not divide ourslves into human groups on various titles like hindu/muslim etc but SOUTH ASIANS and work for collective progress.Work hand in hand.Visted this wonder in 2007 and i was spell bound,spent only 4 hours and has a great desire to visit again.

  • bharat

    We visited Fatepur Sikri a few years ago on my trip to see ‘ The Golden Triangle’, Delhi, Agra, Rajastan etc, and found it to be the most relaxing section of my trip. Mind you We did get there just when it opened in the morning, the mist was still hanging around AND it was very cool also.
    After the visit when we were leaving, I noticed an old man on a mound near the gate, preparing what looked like fruit, so I went up to him and saw the most beautiful ‘ Amroot’ ( guava ) I have ever seen and the size of a large orange. I asked him ( stupidly ) – are the fresh ? his reply, – ‘Saheb, me abhi hi Akbar ke bagiche se tod kar laya hoon aap ke liya’ ( saheb- I have just collected these from Akbars garden, just for you ‘
    After such a reply, I just had to buy a few, and boy, were they delicious ( Badshai ) I wonder if the old man is still there ?

  • mohit

    i totally flash when i saw this pic
    very nice.
    Thanks for this

  • asif iqbal mulla

    buitiful is fethepur sekeri, im not visited it but heard this one of the buitiful city of india, so i like visit this place once special dargha of HAZARATH SALEEM CHISHTI.

  • Mohan Raj

    Beautiful Knowledge and very descriptive photographs. I regret not visiting this place during my vacation tour to Delhi. I visited Sikandara, Mathura & Agra but omitted to include Fateh Pur Sikri. Would try and visit the next time I go to Delhi. – Thanks

  • vikas

    beutyful city & beutyful hisotry bildings

  • roshani

    ti is very help full to the atchitrcture student

  • Usually is happening that we require to get know referring to this good post and in that situation that is really good to get a support of the good essay writers and buy an essay only there.

  • suresh rogye

    bahot sal se ek khwab hai ke fateh pur sikri rubroo dekhu,par rubaroo nahi to nahi par aapki wajah se fotos to dekh saka. bahot bahot shukriya

  • Ravi sharma

    maine abhi kuch din pehle hi fatehpur sikri ko dekha bada maja aaya par baha pa jo loot machi hui hai usko band karna chahiye waha ke logo ko bhi atithi devo bawah samajhna chahiye

  • pothiappan

    on visiting fatafur sikkiri fort of akbar i very much exclaimed for the architecture of the forts find there.All indian must visit there to know the coordination tacticts of akabar handled with his wifes having different regious belives.

    gpothiappan
    31/7/11

  • Heera Mani

    Beautiful and descriptive photographs.

  • AbrarZarifi

    The photographs remind us all of the simple yet technical lifestyle of the Mughals. The above mentioned tunnel is a sheer example. There are also other instances of how, in the Agra fort, the waters of Yamuna was filled into the hollow walls which airconditioned the rooms. Akbar was a great ruler who didn’t differentiate or discriminate any religion. He gave the talented and the notorious, both, their worth. The Mughals have brought with them the feature called ‘arch’ in our country’s architecture. These monuments reminisce about the richness in the Muslim culture.

  • sekar

    Very nice Photography.Once again it shows The part of Incredible India

  • rajesh thakrele

    good photos…fatahpur sikari hamne kitabo me pada hai…..jivan me ek bar jarur ghumne jaunga……

  • Anwaar Raabani Sheikh

    Would that there be easy visitors’ visa system to be adopted by the two governments to see such historical places

  • Paulo Rattes

    Belas fotos.

    Brasil

  • Solo Wanderer

    Valuable information…admirable work with the content… Fatehpur Sikri now tops the list of most visited UNESCO monument of India….It is favorite of everyone and it deserves that…

Leave a Reply

 

 

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>