Welcome to Fatehpur Sikri, a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh! This vibrant town is home to some of the most stunning monuments built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. In this article we will discuss about the 10 best places to visit in Fatehpur Sikri.
Once the Mughal capital, it later shifted to Agra. Akbar built this town to honor saint Salim Chisti.
The tomb of the saint is located in the Fatehpur Sikri complex. Fatehpur Sikri is an excellent example of Mughal architecture in India.
With its captivating monuments, it is worth a visit. Suppose you are short on time or prefer not to stay overnight.
Then you can easily plan a day trip from Agra. Take a bus in the morning and return in the evening after enjoying all that Fatehpur Sikri has to offer.
Where to begin your adventure? Don’t worry! We made a list of tourist places in Fatehpur Sikri that you should visit to make the most of your time here.
Fatehpur Sikri is a historic town with palaces, mosques, and impressive architecture. It offers something for everyone.
Bring your camera and prepare for an incredible adventure in this magical world.
The door at Fatehpur Sikri is a unique symbol of the magnificent structure. Mughal emperor Akbar built it after conquering Gujarat.
It is also called the main gate of Jama Masjid. The door is made of red sandstone and designed with black marble stones.
It stands 54 feet tall from the ground floor, with inscriptions of the Holy Quran and Persian writing on the pillar and arch. It has 15 stories and represents religious tolerance during Akbar’s reign.
Diwan-i-Khas is a fascinating building in Fatehpur Sikri. The central tower, the Lotus Throne, is a beautiful example of detailed stone carving.
A pillar supports a walkway that connects the four corners of the first floor to a central circular platform for Emperor Akbar. The hall was for important people and religious leaders who wanted to meet privately with the Emperor.
This palace is also called Maryam Uz Zamani Palace. It was the home of a Rajput queen and Akbar’s favorite queen.
It was a place of worship for Jodha Bai and other queens of Akbar. The palace has a mix of Rajputana and Mughal carpet styles.
It is located 1 km from Fatehpur Sikri railway station and is one of the giant buildings in Jodha Bai’s palace in Fatehpur Sikri.
You can learn about the history of Akbar and Jodha Bai here.
The Birbal palace was built in 1571 for Raja Birbal, who was Akbar’s Hindu Prime Minister. It was in Akbar’s Imperial Harem with his senior queens, Ruqayya Begum and Salima Begum.
The palace displays Mughal architecture with intricate carvings, pretty jharokhas, and raised floral patterns. A treasury building in the palace complex stored Akbar’s valuable possessions, like diamonds, gold, and rare stones from different places.
This mosque is a World Heritage site and the biggest mosque in the country. Mughal Emperor Akbar constructed it with the help of Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti in 1571-72.
The mosque has a rectangular shape with entrances to the north, south, and east and a large courtyard. The mosque is adorned with glazed tiles, inlaid stones, and paintings featuring the Holy Quran.
This makes the mosque impressive and appealing, so it’s worth visiting.
The Panch Mahal in Fatehpur Sikri is a famous attraction showing beautiful Mughal architecture. Emperor Akbar built this five-story building as a summer getaway for the royal women.
It is made of red sandstone and is also called the wind tower. There is a pool in front of it called Anoop Talav.
The primary purpose of the Panch Mahal is entertainment, with many performances happening there. It has five stories and 176 columns.
The pillars used to have stone-carved meshes, probably for the women in the nearby Zanana enclosure. The pillars have carvings of Persian, Hindu, and Jain elements worth seeing.
The tomb of Sheik Salim Chisti is an essential building in the palace complex. It was built between 1580 and 1581.
The building is made of white marble and has intricate stone carvings. The architecture is a mix of Hindu and Mughal styles.
The mausoleum belongs to Salim Chishti, a Sufi saint near the city. It was a significant center of the Sufi movement in India.
Emperor Akbar made this tower for his favorite elephant, Hiran. It used as a marker and a light to help people walk at night.
The tower is 21.34 meters tall and has an octagonal shape at the bottom and a circular shape at the top. It also has hexagons and six-point stars on it.
During Akbar’s time as emperor, women could watch sports, wrestling matches, and animal fights from this tower.
The Diwan-i-Am was built by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar, between 1570 and 1580 AD. Every morning, he listened to the public’s requests in this hall.
It was also used for public prayers and celebrations. The building had three parts: a space for the public, a space for the emperor, and a space for the royal ladies.
It was rectangular, with multiple bays and a large courtyard. The most impressive feature was the Throne Chamber, which faced east because Akbar believed in sun worship.
This chamber had a unique stone-tiled roof and pillars surrounding three sides, seating over a thousand people. To the west was a pavilion with the Emperor’s throne and beautiful Jali screens separating the court ladies.
The Turkic Baths were located southwest of the Diwan-i-Am, next to the Turkic Sultana’s House.
This museum is in a treasury building 100 meters from the Diwan-I-Am. It was restored between 2002 and 2004.
The museum has artifacts from before and during the Mughal period found in Fatehpur Sikri. There are four galleries with prehistoric stone tools.
There are also Jain sculptures, small stone sculptures, and figurines on display. Next to the Archaeological Museum, there is a beautiful garden that overlooks the lake.
The garden breaks up the hot, red sandstone and designed like a formal Mughal garden. It used to surrounded by walls for privacy and was essential to the palace’s three female areas.
The garden had a small bathhouse, pavilions, and a fishpond in the center. Water from the lake flowed into the garden through aqueducts.
The water fell over a wall with oil lamp niches, creating a sparkling curtain over the flickering lights.
Fatehpur Sikri is a city full of historical and architectural wonders that travelers should visit. It has impressive buildings like the Buland Darwaza and peaceful places like the Jama Masjid.
The palaces and tombs are beautifully carved and show the artistic brilliance of the Mughal era. Whether you love history and architecture or appreciate beauty, Fatehpur Sikri has something for everyone.
So, plan your visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site and immerse yourself in India’s rich past splendor. Take advantage of experiencing the magic of Fatehpur.
Nayana is passionate about discovering the most magnificent places to visit in India! She also loves to uncover the most incredible sights and capture her experiences in her writing through TouristPanda.com.
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