Fatehpur
Sikri Agra
Overwhelmed by the grace of Sufi saint Salim Chisti who blessed him
with a son, Akbar planned a new capital in his honour at Fatehpur Sikri,
40 km from his capital Agra. However, the new city's glory was short
lived as the paucity of water forced the administration to return to
Agra.
Fatehpur Sikri is a World Heritage site, and its construction
shows the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Bengal.
Well laid out courtyards, pools, harems and mosques city reflect Akbar's
proclivity for informality and open spaces. Some of the monuments that
are witness to the old glory of Fatehpur are the Buland Darwaza,
Diwan-i-Am, the Diwan-i-Khas, Raja Birbal's Haveli, Jodhabai's Palace,
Panch Mahal and the famous Anup Talao where Tansen performed at
different hours of the day. A white marble mausoleum for Salim Chisti is
also one of the landmark monuments of Fatehpur Sikri, located within
Jama Masjid.
