Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO World Heritage fortified city in Agra District, Uttar Pradesh, about 37 km west of Agra. Built by Mughal Emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585 as his capital, it is renowned for its well-preserved red sandstone palaces, courtyards, mosques and gateways blending Indo-Islamic, Hindu and Jain architectural styles. Key structures include Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti, Panch Mahal and Diwan-i-Khas.

Visitors can explore a large red sandstone walled city complex on a rocky ridge comprising palaces, courtyards, pavilions and religious structures. The site includes the 54-metre-high Buland Darwaza, Jama Masjid, white marble Tomb of Salim Chishti, Panch Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas with its central pillar, Diwan-i-Aam, Jodha Bai's Palace and Birbal's House. The area is open and exposed with stone-paved courtyards, pillared halls and carved gateways, offering guided tours, photography and heritage walks.

Built by Mughal Emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585, Fatehpur Sikri served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for about 10-15 years. It was constructed to honour Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti and was abandoned later, traditionally attributed to water scarcity. The city represents a distinctive phase of Mughal architecture blending Islamic, Hindu and Jain elements and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

The complex is a major example of Mughal town planning and architecture and remains an important cultural and pilgrimage site due to the Tomb of Salim Chishti, visited by devotees. It showcases syncretic architectural traditions and is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument of national importance.