Fatehpur Sikri Agra has been immortalized as the City of the Taj. Yet, it doesn’t take much for the roving eye to discover that there’s more to Agra than just the fabled Taj Mahal. The city is a virtual gateway to a world of discovery….. a freeze-frame from a resplendent era that’s long since gone by.
In the great epic ‘Mahabharat’ the region of Agra is described as ‘Agraban’ (an integral part of the Braj Bhumi or the land of Lord Krishna). The latter part of Indian history outlines the origin of Agra to 1475 A.D., the reign of Raja Badal Singh.
Agra came into limelight during the rule of Afghan King Sikandar Lodhi – who had made it the capital of his empire. Later in 1526 A.D., the Mughal Emperor Babar took upon himself the task for rendering Agra, a unique character and beauty of its own.
The visionary that he was and great patron of the arts, Emperor Babar brought in a change in the culture and life-style among the people of Agra, which then brought forth some of the finest craftsmen, artists, statesmen, warriors and nobility, this part of India had ever witnessed, The golden age of Agra’s history, thus began to set in.
The next few hundred years of Agra witnessed the rise of the pomp and pageantry of three great Mughal monarchs – Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and ShahJahan – all of whom lavished on this fabled city, their love and riches immeasurably to transform the land into one of the great centers of art, culture, learning and commerce.
Much of the city’s impressive past lives is a witness of the majesty of the buildings, the exquisite arts and crafts and not to forget, the lure of an exceptional cuisine…. All, cherished as priceless legacies of a nostalgic past.
The older city of Agra has impressively retained much of its resplendent history…… captivating every visitor with fond memories to take back home. Today, luxury and modern convenience also exist adjacent to tradition – luxury hotels, shopping malls and plazas, wide avenues and a superb choice of venues for recreation, business, sports, pleasure, education and the arts.
The Yamuna river flows by Agra and this ancient city sets the right mood to embark on a journey on the Heritage Arc.
The Taj Mahal is a shining monument in marble, a tribute to the imagination of a great emperor who gave a symbol of eternal love to the world.
The Taj Mahal gives untold opportunities to the visitor to explore the architecture, stone work, inlay work, marble embroidery, woodwork and other examples of man’s artistic ingenuity that has gone into its making.
History of Fatehpur Sikri
The history of Fatehpur Sikri dates back to the Mughal era in the 16th century. Lost and abandoned, Fatehpur Sikri stood like a proud maiden showing off her beauty even as an air of melancholy surrounded it. The rich sand stone walls echoed tales of poignancy and erstwhile glory. It was blazing hot and we were on the road from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri after gazing at the beauty of the Taj Mahal and the grandeur of the fort.
And yet there was something special about the 500 year old ghost town that stood like a faded jewel sparkling in the afternoon sun. No one really knows why Akbar abandoned his capital city, one that he lovingly built and ruled for fourteen years. Many legends echoed from these walls, as it went down in history as the court of Akbar’s legendary courtiers. This was where Tansen sang for rains and Birbal polished his wits.
Sikri as a village was first noticed by Babar and not Akbar, when he defeated Rana Sangha in the 16th century. He apparently gave it a title, Shukri, feeling grateful, as a token of thanksgiving.
It was also the home of the Sufi saint Salim Chisti who lived in a cavern here. Legend has it that Akbar visited him in the 16th century to seek his blessings for a male heir. Akbar, perhaps on an impulse decided to build his capital here which was painted red with sandstone. And the prediction did come true as Prince Salim or Jahangir was born in this new town.
The name Fatehpur came much later, as it was from here that Akbar marched to a successful victory over the rulers of Gujarat and renamed it as the City of victory. The first thing that we saw here was the 54 metres tall Bulund Darwaaza , a gate that was built here to commemorate the victory. It is also one of the places to see in Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri Architecture
The carvings, the open courtyards and the general aura of this ancient walled city will leave you breathless. There is a certain palpable mysticism in its air and a loftiness in the panoramic views its ramparts afford. While the structure can be accessed through a number of gates on the eight-kilometre-long fort wall, such as the Delhi Gate, Lal gate, Agra Gate, Chandanpal Gate, Gwalior Gate, Birbal’s Gate, Chor Gate, Ajmeri Gate and Tehra Gate, here are some important buildings on the complex you cannot miss.
Buland Darwaza: Located on the south wall of the mosque, Buland Darwaza is a 55-metre-high structure and a mark of Emperor Akbar’s victory in Gujarat. This addition was made to Fatehpur Sikri after about five years of the construction of the mosque. The columned central porch is made of three entrances of which the central one is the largest and popularly dubbed the Horseshoe Gate, after the numerous horseshoes nailed on it as a symbol of good luck. Buland Darwaza is one of the most photographed structures in the Fatehpur Sikri complex.
Tomb of Salim Chishti: Sheikh Salim Chishti was a known sufi saint in the Sikri village who had predicted the birth of Akbar’s son Jahangir, which eventually led to Akbar moving his capital here. The Sufi saint lies encased in a white marble tomb in Jama Masjid’s rambling courtyard. The tomb is actually a single-storey building constructed around a square chamber in the center that holds the grave of the Sufi saint in a wooden canopy embellished with mother-of-pearls. Akbar’s successful campaign in Gujarat also led to borrowing of a leaf or two from its architectural history evident in the tomb of the saint that was inspired by the early 15th century mausoleum from the Gujarat Sultanate period. The carved jaalis, the white marble brackets, the drooping eaves around the parapet are some of the eminent features of the tomb of Salim Chishti. Also, look up the red sandstone tomb of Islam Khan 1 to the east of Chishti’s own. Islam Khan was the grandson of the Sufi saint and a general in the Mughal army of Emperor Jahangir. Typical of Islamic tombs it is topped with a dome and 36 little domed chattris.
Jama Masjid: This congregational mosque, historians believe, is the first building to be constructed on the complex, and holds immense religious and spiritual significance. The sprawling courtyard of the Fatehpur Sikri Jama Masjid, the row of chattri designs on the sanctuary, the geometric patters typical of Islamic architecture, the fine white marble inlay decorations characterise what is the country’s most stunning mosque.
Panch Mahal: This five-storey columned structure has a unique architecture. The tiers on their way up diminish in size, finally petering out into a large domed chhatri on the top. The columns on every level are profound with carvings and total up to a 176. Historians believe this structure was a ladies court owing to a perforated stone screen which originally stood before the facade.
Palace of Jodha Bai: The largest and perhaps the most significant construction in the Imperial Complex is the palace of Akbar’s Rajput wife, Jodha Bai who was known for her beauty and charisma. The palace has high walls and a nine-metre-tall gate on the east for privacy. You will witness an interesting blend of Hindu elements and Islamic styles in the structure. Adjacent to the palace is the Hawa Mahal and the Mughal Charbagh-style garden.
Hiran Minar: Believed to be a memorial to Akbar’s favourite elephant, the Elephant Tower or Hiran Minar is actually a circular tower that has elephant tusks projected in stone. It later came to be known that the Hiran Minar served as a starting point for mile posts.
Birbal’s House: The witty and wise Birbal was the life of Akbar’s court. A Hindu, he was also the Emperor’s favourite minister. This was the house where Birbal lived. The structure is striking for the chajjas or sloping sunshades and the brackets that support it.
Diwan-i-Khas: This Hall of Private Audience is surmounted by four chattris and has a central pillar with a square base and an octagonal shape adorned with floral patterns. Don’t miss the 36 serpentine brackets that hold the little podium on which Akbar met the various religious delegates and carried out elaborate discussions on their faiths.
