Fatehpur Sikri Agra
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Fatehpur Sikri is a fascinating ghost city built in the 16th century, 37 km from Agra.
This historic site was founded by Akbar the great, who at 26 years did not have a heir. He went to a saint, Shaikh Salim Chishti who lived in a city called Sikri. His blessing gave Akbar 3 sons. As a gesture, Akbar built a whole new city in Sikri.
It was built between 1569 and 1585 and was intended to be the joint capital with Agra, but was soon deserted because the water system could not support any residents. It remained untouched for over 400 years now and its palaces are a remainder of the extravagance of the Mughals.
This magnificent fortified ghost city, 40km west of Agra, was the short-lived capital of the Mughal empire between 1571 and 1585, during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Akbar visited Sikri to consult the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti, who predicted the birth of an heir to the Mughal throne. When the prophecy came true, Akbar built his new capital here. Although a brilliant Indo-Islamic masterpiece, the city was erected in an area that suffered from water shortages and was abandoned shortly after Akbar’s death. The well-preserved palace buildings and the still-used mosque are a superb reminder of the Mughals at their architectural peak, and you can wander around other ruins scattered behind the mosque and the mint.
Most people visit this World Heritage site as a day trip from Agra, but you can stay in the nearby town, and the red sandstone palaces are at their most atmospheric at sunset.
Book India's Golden Triangle Tour and visit Fatehpur Sikri. The trip also provides you the opportunity to visit 3 more heritage cities in India that are famous all over the world for their charm which are Delhi, Agra and Jaipur
Sources:
http://www.aviewoncities.com/agra/fatehpursikri.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/uttar-pradesh/fatehpur-sikri
