Located 35 km from Agra and 221 km from Delhi, the abandoned ruins of Akbar’s capital are the best places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri.
The red sandstone capital of the Mughal emperor Akbar, one of his architectural achievements, spreads along a ridge. The places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri sit on top of this ridge that runs between the small villages of Fatehpur and Sikri.
Divided into sacred and secular sections, the Jama Masjid mosque and the royal palaces are closely located to each other and the Badshahi Darwaza (King’s Gate) connects the two together. Fatehpur Sikri’s royal complex contains the private and public spaces of Akbar’s court, which included the harem and the treasury, while the adjoining sacred complex has the Jama Masjid mosque, Salim Chishti’s tomb and the Buland Darwaza, an exclusive royal gateway. The star attractions in the royal complex are the Turkish Sultana’s House, Panch Mahal and Diwan-i-Khas.
A fine example of a Mughal walled city with defined private and public areas and imposing gateways, its architecture, a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles, reflects Akbar’s secular vision as well as his style of governance. The great mosque and palace buildings, deserted after only 14 years are still a vivid reminder of Akbar’s power and vision. Perfectly preserved, it conjures up the lifestyle of the Mughals at the height of their power and glory. It’s a bizarre experience to wander through these magnificent, architecturally fascinating sandstone arches, courtyards and buildings.
In addition to the Jama Masjid and the royal palaces, there are plenty of ruins scattered all over this area, including some in the interesting village of Sikri to the north, all of which can be viewed for free.
Other Fatehpur Sikri tourist places that also deserve some of your time include the colourful Fatehpur Bazaar which has some traditional sweets and biscuits only found in Fatehpur Sikri. You can also find some wonderful souvenirs along the streets here but remember to bargain hard as this is a prime tourist area.
See below for the best places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri. Click on the link for more information.
1. Jama Masjid Fatehpur Sikri
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The Jama Masjid in Fatehpur Sikri is one of the largest mosques in India built by the Mughal emperor, Akbar in 1571 in Indo-Islamic style. The grand open mosque towers over the city of Fatehpur Sikri and served as a model for several Mughal mosques. This is the sacred section of Fatehpur Sikri and this beautiful and immense mosque is still in use today.
2. Buland Darwaza Fatehpur Sikri
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The main entrance into the Jama Masjid is through the Buland Darwaza located at the top of a flight of stone steps at the south side. It was built to commemorate Akbar’s military victory in Gujarat in 1573. Just as the grand open mosque towers of the Jama Masjid served as a model for several Mughal mosques, the huge 54-m (177-ft) gateway of the Buland Darwaza later inspired other lofty gateways in India.
3. Fatehpur Sikri Fort (Royal Palaces)
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Fatehpur Sikri Fort, the red sandstone capital of Mughal emperor, Akbar sits on top of a ridge in Fatehpur Sikri. The principal buildings of the imperial palace complex, clustered on a series of terraces along the sandstone ridge, formed the core of Akbar’s city.
4. Panch Mahal Fatehpur Sikri
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The Mughal emperor, Akbar chose Fatehpur Sikri to be his capital between 1571 and 1585 and built his fort and palaces on the ridge overlooking the city. Panch Mahal Fatehpur Sikri is one of the palaces built by Akbar within his fortified capital. Along with the other palaces, it formed the private living areas for the emperor and his queens.
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