Location: 37 km (23 mi) West of Agra, Agra district Map
Open: daily
Fatehpur Sikri is a beautiful palace situated 37
km (23 mi) West of Agra, Agra district in India. Its name - City of
Victory - it received after the victory of the Mughal emperor Babur
over Rama Sanu in the battle of Khanva (about 40 km from Agra). Then
Emperor Akbar I made the city his capital and built a fort here. The
capital was only 10 years old, and in 1586 the emperor was forced to
relocate to Lahore, closer to the restless north-western borders
with Afghanistan. With the departure of the ruler, the city was
empty forever. Akbar had no children, but after the blessing of the
Sufi Salim Chisti, he had a son, named Salim in his honor and who
later became the heir to the throne under the name Jahangir. In
memory of Salim Chisti in 1571, Akbar built the mausoleum of
Salim-Chisti-Ka-Mazar. At first it was built of red sandstone, but
was later rebuilt in marble.
Fatehpur Sikri shared its capital functions with Agra, in the Red
Fort of which were located part of the arms depots, treasuries and
other reserves. During the crisis, management, the harem and the
treasury could be moved to Agra in less than a day.
According to the 2001 census in India, the population of Fatehpur Sikri is 28,754. By gender, 53% of the population are men, 47% are women. The literacy rate is 46%, which is less than the national average (59.5%). The literacy rate of the male population is 57%, female - 34%. 19% of the population of Fatehpur Sikri are children under the age of 6 years.
The ticket offices are located at the entrance to the
fort area where the palaces are located. Tickets can be purchased in
advance online from the Archaeological Survey of India website for ₹35
Indian citizens / ₹600 foreigners plus ₹10 Agra toll tax on the spot at
the ticket counter. Otherwise, tickets purchased locally cost ₹600 for
foreigners.
1 Buland Darwaza (in the south wall of the mosque).
The Buland Darwaza is 54 meters high. The door was added about five
years after the mosque was completed c. 1576-1577 as a victory arch,
commemorating Akbar's victorious campaign in Gujarat. It bears two
inscriptions in the arch, one of which reads:
«Isa, son of Mariam
said: The world is a bridge, pass over it, but do not build houses on
it. Whoever hopes for an hour can hope for eternity. The world only
lasts an hour. Spend it in prayer, because the rest is invisible."
The central portico includes three arched entrances, of which the
largest, in the centre, is known locally as the Horseshoe Gate, due to
the custom of nailing horseshoes to its large wooden doors for good
luck. Off the giant steps to the left is a deep well.
2 Jama
Masjid (Friday Mosque). One of the largest mosque complexes in India and
was perhaps one of the first buildings to be constructed in the complex,
as its epigraph gives AH 979 (AD 1571–72) as the date of its completion,
with a massive entrance to the courtyard. It was built in the manner of
Indian mosques, with iwans around a central courtyard. The architecture
however blends Indian influences with Persian influences. A distinctive
feature is the row of chhatris above the shrine. There are three mihrabs
in each of the seven bays, while the large central mihrab is covered by
a dome, is decorated with white marble inlays, in geometric patterns.
Entry to the Jama Masjid site (including the courtyard) can only be done
without wearing footwear.
3 Salim Chishti Mausoleum. Salim
Chishti was a Sufi saint, highly respected by Emperor Akbar. In fact,
the emperor held Salim in such high esteem that he named his son Salim
(who would later be known as the Mughal emperor Jahangir) in honor of
the saint. The mausoleum built for Salim Chishti in 1580 and 1581 is
considered one of the greatest examples of Mughal architecture. It is a
white marble tomb inside the sahn (courtyard) of the Jama Masjid. The
single-story structure is built around a central square chamber, within
which lies the saint's tomb, beneath an ornate wooden canopy studded
with mother-of-pearl mosaic. Around it is a covered passage for
circumambulation, with carved Jali, made from openwork stone screens all
around with intricate geometric designs and an entrance to the south.
The tomb is influenced by the earlier mausoleum of the Gujarat Sultanate
of the early 15th century. Other striking features of the tomb are the
white marble serpentine brackets, which support the sloping eaves around
the parapet.
To the left of the tomb, to the east, is a red sandstone
tomb of Islam Khan I, son of Shaikh Badruddin Chishti and grandson of
Shaikh Salim Chishti, who became a general of the Mughal army during
Jahangir's reign. The tomb is topped with a dome and thirty-six small
domed chattris and contains a number of graves, some unnamed, all male
descendants of Shaikh Salim Chishti.
4 Ibadat Khana (House of
Worship). A hall built in 1575 AD. in which Emperor Akbar invited
religious scholars from a variety of religions to discuss and debate a
new syncretistic faith, Din-e-Ilahi.
5 Panch Mahal (Five
Palaces). A palatial five-story structure, with the levels gradually
decreasing in size, until the final one, which is a single large domed
chhatri. Openwork stone screens originally fronted the façade and
probably also divided the interior, suggesting that it was built for the
ladies of the court. The floors are supported by intricately carved
columns on each level, for a total of 176 columns in all. It stands out
from the rest of the complex with its pagoda-like, almost Buddhist
influences.
6 Diwan-i-Khas (Private Audience Hall). It is a
simple square building with four chhatris on the roof comprising a
central pillar that dominates the hall and is thought to represent the
religious syncretism sought by Akbar. This has a square base and an
octagonal shaft, both carved with bands of geometric and floral designs,
furthermore its thirty-six serpentine brackets support a circular
platform which is connected to each corner of the building on the first
floor, by four stone walkways. It is here that Akbar discussed their
faiths with representatives of different religions and held a private
audience.
7 Naubat Khana (Naqqar Khana or House of the Drum) (in
front of the Hathi Pol Gate or Elephant Gate, the southern entrance to
the complex). Also known as Naqqar Khana where musicians used drums to
announce the arrival of the Emperor. It is located, suggesting it was
the imperial entrance.
8 Anup Talao (Peerless swimming pool). An
ornamental swimming pool with a central platform and four bridges
leading to it. Some of the important buildings of the royal enclave are
surrounded by it.
9 Samosa Mahal. The palace's funny name (samosa
refers to the pyramidal dumplings of Indian cuisine) is because, in
fact, it resembles a samosa! It's clean and well-kept, though be wary of
the guides in the palace, who can be pushy.
10 Hiran Minar. A
circular tower 30 m high and covered in spikes that look like elephant
tusks. Akbar is said to have built it in memory of his beloved elephant,
Hiran.
11 Birbal Bhawan (Birbal Palace). Birbal was a Hindu
courtier of Akbar, who ended up becoming one of Akbar's closest and most
trusted military advisors. The stone sculptures and interior of the
palace where Birbal lived are magnificent. Notable features of the
building are the horizontal sloping sunshades or chajjas and the
brackets that support them.
12 Caravanserai.
13
Diwan-i-Am. It is a type of building found in many cities where the
ruler meets the public. In this case, it is a multi-bay, pavilion-like
rectangular structure overlooking a large open space. To the southwest
of the Diwan-i-Am and next to the house of the Turkish Sultana are the
Turkish baths.
14 Jodha Bai Mahal (Jodha Bai). The place of
residence of Akbar's favorite Rajput wife, Mariam-uz-Zamani, commonly
known as Jodha Bai, shows Rajput influence and is built around a
courtyard, with particular attention to ensuring privacy. It also has a
Hindu temple and a tulsi math used by the Hindu wife for worship. This
palace was internally connected to Akbar's khawabgah.
By car
Car is the quickest way to reach Fatehpur Sikri. By road
and in typical traffic, it is about a 40km drive west (≈50 minutes) from
Agra along the N21. From Jaipur, it's about a 210km journey east along
NH21. From Delhi, it can be reached by driving south for about 225 km on
the Taj Express Highway, followed by the N19 to Mathura, then the N2
Agra Bypass and finally the N21 west to Fatehpur Sikri.
On the
train
1 Fatehpur Sikri Station (under the hill near the historical
site). Served daily by local trains from Agra Cantonment station. Trips
usually last an hour.
By bus
2 Fatehpur Sikri Bus Stop. There
are also local buses reaching Fatehpur Sikri from Agra Idgah bus stand
which stop below the entrance of the old palace, Buland Darwaza. The
journey takes about an hour and a half. The buses also arrive here and
make the short journey from the car park.
By public transport
The easiest way to get around the city is by
car or rickshaw. However, from the stations it is possible to walk to
the entrance of the historic site. Around the UNESCO site, walking is
the only means of transportation.
Bus from parking lot to
Fatehpur Sikri entrance. The Agra Development Authority (ADA) runs some
old non-air-conditioned buses up to the site entrance from the parking
area, the fare is ₹10 per person return.
By car
Parking (at
the base of the hill of the palace complex). The car park is
approximately one kilometer away from the site. From here you can take
the bus (see above).
Guided tour. ₹450 for 2 hours. To get a complete idea of this site it is best to get a guide or at least have a good printed guide.
At the entrance to the site a swarm of sellers will try to convince you to go to their shop and on your return they will wait for you and start trying to approach again. Shops sell clothes and local crafts.
Average prices
1 Jodha Restaurant, Hotel Goverdhan, ☎ +91 99977
02459. North Indian vegetarian and vegan food in a casual setting.
2
Sher-e-Punjab, Bharatpur Crossing, ☎ +91 98372 26765. Punjabi and other
North Indian dishes with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Meals
are plentiful and satisfying after a long day of sightseeing.
Moderate prices
1 Hotel Vrindavana, Buland Gate, Crossing, ☎ +91
9412516664. ₹950–₹1450. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Hotel with
basic services.
At the entrance to the mosque you will have to leave your shoes. Here
you will find several people who will try to sell you something or get
money to "check" your shoes. Don't listen to him. Even inside the open
space you won't have much peace of mind.
Be careful because
during the hot hours walking barefoot in the courtyard of the mosque can
be a problem as the red stone is hot. Better to have a pair of socks on
hand.
The dynastic architecture of Fatehpur Sikri was modeled on Timurid forms and styles. The city was built massively and preferably with red sandstone. Gujarati influences are also seen in its architectural vocabulary and the decor of the palaces of Fatehpur Sikri.