Fatehpur Sikri Travel Guide
Travel to Fatehpur Sikri - Abandoned City of Akbar the Great
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400 years ago the great Mughal Emperor, Akbar built a city atop a rocky ridge 37km west of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri. It was the first planned city in the Indo-Islamic style, created with great vision and energy, but it was completely abandoned little more than a decade later. Today it remains much as it would have been when it was left, a masterpiece in red sandstone.
By 1568, the young Akbar was secure and powerful but he had no son and heir. His search for blessing for the birth of a successor brought him to the Sufi mystic Sheikh Salim Chisti, who lived in Sikri village. The saint prophesied the birth of three sons and soon after was born Prince Salim, later to become Emperor Jahangir. In gratitude for the blessing Akbar decided to create imperial residences in Sikri and make it his new capital.
Fatehpur Sikri is a beautiful blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural elements. The rich red sandstone is ornately decorated with carving and fret work, known as jali. The city was built around the Jama Masjid; palace courts were laid out parallel to the cardinally aligned mosque and the sequential order of the palaces were emphasised by change in level with the royal harem was at the highest.
Amazingly the city was abandoned after only 14 years, a shortage of water is believed to be the reason. Today it is a ghost city, its buildings in a perfect state of preservation, and wandering through the palaces it is not hard to imagine this as the capital of an empire.
Activities in Fatehpur Sikri
A visit to the city take around a half-day from Agra, and the best part of a full day if travelling by public transport. A local guide will explain the significance of the various buildings within the city.
Relaxing
Find a quiet and reflect on just why the city lasted a few short years.
Getting Around
Fatehpur Sikri stands 37km west of Agra and can be reached by public transport, however a more comfortable and pleasant way in which to visit is to take a guided tour, either with your own driver-guide of from a travel agent in Agra. Be aware though that not all travel agents in Agra are reliable, with many offering low prices because they include extended visits to shops.
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