Saturday, 26 January 2013

Fatehpur Sikri

21:58 | Posted by | Edit Post

Fatehpur Sikri
Situated 40 km away from Agra (UP), Fatehpur Sikri was the first planned city of the Mughals. It served as the capital of the Mughals from 1571 AD to 1585 AD after which it was deserted due to water scarcity. This city has been declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. It was here that all Mughal institutions such as the ‘Din-i-Ilahi’, ‘Ibadat-Khanah’, Jharokha-Darshan, the doctrine of Sulh-i-Kul, etc. were founded.
In 1527 AD, Mughal Emperor Babur founded a garden here along with a Jal-Mahal and a baoli (step-well) to commemorate his victory in the Khanwah battle. In 1570, his grandson Akbar shifted from Agra to Sikri to honor the Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti, who resided here (in a cavern on the ridge). Akbar indulged in construction of some glorious structures during this time thus developing a great city with charming palaces and institutions. Akbar named the city Fatehabad, which in later days came to be known as “Fatehpur Sikri”.
Akbar fancied buildings in red sandstone. The structures in Fatehpur Sikri emanate an illuminating quality of the Mughal grandeur combined with a stint of Persian and Indian designs. Some of the important tourist attractions in Sikri are:
Buland Darwaza: “Gateway of Magnificence”.One of the largest gateways in the world.
Jama Masjid: Believed to be a copy of the main mosque at Mecca, this grand mosque is also known as the “Friday Mosque” or “Dargah Mosque”.
Panch Mahal: A five storied magnificent structure with each floor smaller than the one below. The ground floor has 176 intricately carved columns.
Other important attractions: Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Aam, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Place of Jodha Bai, Sunahra Makan, Birbal Bhawan, Itmad-ud-daula's Tomb, etc.
How to Reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is in Agra with flights to many major cities like Delhi and Jaipur.
By Train:Train is the most convenient way to visit Agra. Agra is well connected by rail with the cities like New Delhi and other cities of India.
By Road:Agra is connected to other cities of India by three National Highways – NH 2, NH 3 and NH 11.
Fact Files : Fatehpur Sikri
Location : Agra District, Uttar Pradesh.
Built in : 1570
Built by : Mughal Emperor Akbar
Highlights : Monuments, Mosque, Temples, Palaces.
Declared as : UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
Best Time to Visit : October to February

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