Fatehpur Sikri is the first well-planned Mughal city that was built by Emperor Akbar in the honor of Sufi saint Salim Chisti, who live in a small town called Sikri near Agra, the then capital of the Mughal Empire. Sheikh Salim Chisti had predicted that an heir and a son would soon be born to Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585 but had to be abandoned later due to scarcity of drinking water in the region. However, it remains a popular tourist attraction and is one of the most appealing UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
The name Fatehpur was chosen to signify Emperor Akbar’s victory over Rana Sanga in the Battle of Khanwa. One of the chief architectural legacies of the Great Emperor, the Buland Darwaza or the Royal Entrance of the Fatehpur Sikri is 40 m high and is one of the highest and largest gateways in the world. It is also known as the Gate of Magnificence. The white marble Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti is a sacred place visited by thousands of devotees every year. The most ornate palace at the complex is Panch Mahal, the palace of Rani Jodha Bai, which has 176 carved pillars on the bottom floor. |
