About Tomb of Salim Chishti
The Tomb of Salim Chishti is a white marble mausoleum inside the Jama Masjid courtyard at Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, about 35 km from Agra. Built in 1580-1581 by Mughal Emperor Akbar to honour Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti, it is renowned for its intricate marble jali screens, carved pillars and mother-of-pearl inlay. The shrine is a revered pilgrimage site and a celebrated example of Mughal architecture with Gujarati influences.
Visitors guide
Visitors enter the large courtyard of the Jama Masjid through Buland Darwaza to find the small, square white marble tomb at the centre of the northern side. The structure features a marble dome, carved brackets, serpentine brackets, and exquisite pierced jali screens allowing light into the chamber containing the saint's cenotaph. The surrounding courtyard is paved in marble, with pilgrims tying threads on the jali for blessings. The setting is serene within the Fatehpur Sikri palace-city complex.
Key highlights
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Exquisite white marble mausoleum with intricate jali lattice screens
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Mother-of-pearl and ebony inlay work on the wooden canopy and cenotaph
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Carved marble pillars and serpentine brackets showing Gujarati influence
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Located inside the Jama Masjid courtyard beside Buland Darwaza
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Revered Sufi shrine where visitors tie threads for blessings
History of Tomb of Salim Chishti
Built in 1580-1581 by Mughal Emperor Akbar in honour of Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti (1478-1572) of the Chishti Order. The saint had predicted the birth of Akbar's heir, Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir), and Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri as his capital partly around the saint's hermitage. The tomb was originally in red sandstone and later clad in white marble, representing the transition to mature Mughal architecture.
Culture & Context
A major Sufi shrine and pilgrimage centre visited by people of all faiths. Devotees tie cotton threads on the marble jali screens while praying for fulfilment of wishes, particularly for children, and untie them when wishes are fulfilled. The annual Urs festival commemorates the saint. The tomb is part of the Fatehpur Sikri UNESCO World Heritage Site and exemplifies Indo-Islamic architecture.