Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted fort town situated in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, India, at a distance of 37 km from Agra, 223 km from Delhi and 209 km from Jaipur. The complex was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. Together with Golden Triangle Tour, it is one of the popular places to visit and also among ideal weekend getaways from Delhi & nearby cities.
In 1569 Akbar, the Emperor of Mughal, was commissioned to Fatehpur Sikri. The city was founded to honor the saint of Sufi, Sheik Salim Chisti, who used to live on the ridge of Sikri in a cavern. He was highly admired by Akbar as the Saint had blessed him with a son called Salim in 1569. In 1571, Akbar moved his capital from Agra to Sikri and named the city as victorious meaning Fatehabad. This town served from 1571 till 1585 as the capital of the Mughal Empire, and was later renamed Fatehpur Sikri.
However, the court had to be moved out of Fatehpur Sikri 15 years after it was formed due to acute water shortage. In 1619 Emperor Jahangir spent three months camping here as a plague raged in nearby Agra. The town was rebuilt in 1719 to host Muhammad Shah’s coronation. The city was largely abandoned after that until Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India from 1898 to 1905, funded an archaeological survey and reconstruction campaign.
Sikri had been the Mughals’ first planned city. The town is surrounded by a 6 km long wall on three sides, which is protected by towers and has seven entrances. It consists of magnificent palaces, halls, and mosques. The complex has numerous structures including Jami masjid, Buland Darwaza and Sheik Salim Chisti tomb; Khas Mahal, Panch Mahal, Khwabgah, Diwan-i-Khas, Anup Talao, and Diwan-i-Am.
Fatehpur Sikri’s best time to visit is from November-March, when the temperature is mild.
Entry Fee: Indians Rs. 20 and Foreigners Rs. 260. International tourists who purchase the Rs.500 Toll Tax Ticket from Agra Development Authority for Taj Mahal, they do not need to purchase any other toll tax ticket if they visit monuments such as Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s Tomb, Itimad-ud-Daulah’s tomb on the same day.
Timing: 6 AM to 6 PM. Friday locked.
