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Mughal emperor Akbar built his capital at Fatehpur Sikri founded between 1571 and 1585 AD. It was constructed using red sandstone. It is said that the Emperor, who wished for a son, went to Sikri to get blessed by a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti.
The Mughal dynasty was founded in 1526 when Babur, a Central Asian Muslim prince, followed the example of his ancestor Timur and invaded the land he knew as Hindustan. He seized the Delhi Sultanate from its ruler, Ibrahim Lodi, and laid the foundations of what would become one of the world’s great empires. Through his mother’s line, Babur was also descended from the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan.
Pride of Mughal Empire
A unique blend of religious excellence and religious beliefs – is the essence of Pride of Mughal Empire, Fatehpur Sikri. It was built by Akbar to honour Sheikh Salim Chishti, whose prediction of the birth of the Pride of Mughal Empire heir came true when Akbar was visiting the erstwhile city of Sikri. In honour of the prophecy, Akbar built this city and Jama Masjid, a stunning mosque that is still in use today. He also built three palaces for each of his favourite wives, a Hindu, a Muslim and a Christian. An Indo-Islamic masterpiece, Fatehpur Sikri looks its best during sunset.
The great age of Mughal art lasted from about 1580 to 1650 and spanned the reigns of three emperors: Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Hindu and Muslim artists and artisans from the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent worked with Iranian masters in the masculine environment of the royal workshops. Their very different traditions were combined to produce a radically new and rapidly evolving style of art for the court.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh state, India, was designated a World Heritage site in 1986. The city was founded in 1569 by the great Mughal emperor Akbar. In that year Akbar had visited the Muslim hermit Chishti, who was residing in the village of Sikri.
A town that is entirely built in red sandstone, the perfect place for history nerds and photography buffs – Fatehpur Sikri, was built in the 16th century and served as the Moghul Capital for a little more than 15 years. The entire town that is built with a fusion of Jain, Mughal and Hindu architecture is a fanciful dream of Mughal emperor Akbar.
More about the Site
The City Fatehpur Sikri derives its name from the Persian word “Fateh” which means “Victory”. This very city also was the capital of Akbar as he had shifted his capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is known for its religious harmony which is pretty clear and evident from the rule of Akbar and also the architecture of this entire city. There are many attractions all over the city like the Diwan-i-Aam, Panch Mahal, Buland Darwaza, Diwan-i-Khas and many others which have their own piece of history and stories behind them.
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Jama Masjid – Jama Masjid is one of the first buildings that was built in this town. This mosque has been built in Indian and Persian architectural styles.
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Buland Darwaza – As the name suggests, Buland Darwaza translates into a “Door” in the local language, it is fondly called the “victory gate”, as Buland Darwaza was built to commemorate the victory of Akbar in a war.
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Panch Mahal – Panch Mahal is an impressive palace that was built exclusively for the ladies of the royal family. This wonderful piece of architecture has five stories and offers a vantage view of the entire city.
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Ibadat Khana – Ibadat Khana which literally means the house of worship in Persian was built by the Moghul emperor Akbar. The sole purpose of building this iconic structure was to organise prayer meetings on large scale and to conduct a dialogue between leaders from spiritual backgrounds.
Protection and management requirements
The management of Fatehpur Sikri is carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India. Legal protection of the property and control over the regulated area around it is through legislation, including the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act (1958) and its Rules (1959) and Amendment and Validation Act (2010), which is adequate to the overall administration of the property and buffer zone. In addition, the passing of orders by the Honourable Supreme Court of India assists the Archaeological Survey of India in the protection and conservation of monuments. An area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal is defined to protect the monument from pollution. The Supreme Court of India in December 1996 delivered a ruling that banned the use of coal/coke in industries located in this “UNESCO world Heritage Site, and required these industries to switch over to natural gas or relocate outside the TTZ. The TTZ comprises 40 protected monuments, including three World Heritage properties: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.
Conclusion
Fatehpur Sikri is a fortified ancient city located 40 kilometres west of the city of Agra. This is a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site in India. It also served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for a short period of time (from 1572 to 1585). This ancient city known for its massive fortification was under the rule of Emperor Akbar. Prior to it being named as capital during the Pride of the Mughal Emperor reign, he visited the city of Sikri to consult with Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti. We thus saw World Heritage Site, which was founded in 1571. Pride of the Mughal empire blend of religious excellence as well as religious beliefs.
