Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) located in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, India is about 40 km from Taj Mahal, Agra City. This historical city was constructed by Mughal emperor Akbar from 1570 and served as the empire's capital until 1585 when it was abandoned due to lack of water supply to sustain the growing population. The palace and mosque are a major tourist attraction and it is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Akbar inherited the Mughal Empire from his father Humayun and during the 1560s he rebuilt the Agra Fort and established it as his capital. He had a son and then twins, but the twins died due to which he consulted Salim Chishti - the sufi saint 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 Salim Chishti. The name, Fateh is Arabic in origin and means "victory", also in Urdu and Persian language. It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born.
The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarat and Bengal because indigenous craftsmen from various regions were used for the construction of the buildings. Same reason why influences from Hindu and Jain architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements.
Akbar inherited the Mughal Empire from his father Humayun and during the 1560s he rebuilt the Agra Fort and established it as his capital. He had a son and then twins, but the twins died due to which he consulted Salim Chishti - the sufi saint 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 Salim Chishti. The name, Fateh is Arabic in origin and means "victory", also in Urdu and Persian language. It is at Fatehpur Sikri that the legends of Akbar and his famed courtiers, the nine jewels or Navaratnas, were born.
The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri show a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarat and Bengal because indigenous craftsmen from various regions were used for the construction of the buildings. Same reason why influences from Hindu and Jain architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements.
The Fatehpur Sikri site's prominent civic buildings include public and private audience halls where state business was conducted and where Akbar held religious councils that led to the creation of his new faith, the Din-i-Ilahi. The harem, imperial palaces, and the houses of Akbar's wives are among the key structures of the complex's residential area.
Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. The historical city was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. Though it took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years of use because of shortage of water supply which was unable to sustain the growing population. The palace and mosque in Fatehpur Sikri are a tourist attraction and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which is about 40 km from the Taj Mahal, Agra. Uttar Pradesh state (UP), North India.
Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. The historical city was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. Though it took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years of use because of shortage of water supply which was unable to sustain the growing population. The palace and mosque in Fatehpur Sikri are a tourist attraction and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which is about 40 km from the Taj Mahal, Agra. Uttar Pradesh state (UP), North India.
The Fatehpur Sikri site's prominent civic buildings include public and private audience halls where state business was conducted and where Akbar held religious councils that led to the creation of his new faith, the Din-i-Ilahi. The harem, imperial palaces, and the houses of Akbar's wives are among the key structures of the complex's residential area.
Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. The historical city was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. Though it took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years of use because of shortage of water supply which was unable to sustain the growing population. The palace and mosque in Fatehpur Sikri are a tourist attraction and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which is about 40 km from the Taj Mahal, Agra. Uttar Pradesh state (UP), North India.
Fatehpur Sikri (Hindi: फतेहपुर सीकरी, Urdu: فتحپور سیکری) is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. The historical city was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570 and served as the empire's capital from 1571 until 1585. Though it took 15 years to build, it was abandoned after only 14 years of use because of shortage of water supply which was unable to sustain the growing population. The palace and mosque in Fatehpur Sikri are a tourist attraction and it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which is about 40 km from the Taj Mahal, Agra. Uttar Pradesh state (UP), North India.
