"The City of Victory" Fatehpur Sikri by atufft

Fatehpur Sikri Travel Guide: 239 reviews and 737 photos

City of Victory

Mughal Emperor Akbar, aged 27 at the time of his conquest of Gujarat and capture of the fort at Ranthambhore (see my pages for Sawai Madhopur), came to the hamlet of Sikri to consult with Shaikh Salim concerning his still childless situation. The Shaikh prophesied three sons, and after the first, Jahangir, was born a great mosque was built. When the Shaikh died in 1572, the marble tomb was built within the complex. When Jahangir was just a year old, construction of the fort and palace complex began and continued until 1585. Emperor Jahangir in his memoirs describes the beauty of the site:
My revered father, regarding the village of Sikri, my birthplace, as fortunate to himself, made it his capital, and in the course of the 14 or 15 years the hills and deserts, which abounded in beasts of prey, were converted into a magnificent city, comprising numerous gardens, elegant edifices, and pavilions of great beauty. After the conquest of Gujarat, the village was named Fatehpur, the town of victory.

Wonderful contast with Agra

Tourist Entrance to Fatehpur Sikri

Thus, whereas the Red Fort and Taj Mahal have natural settings by a sacred river, within close proximity to rich agricultural resources, Fatehpur Sikri is a palace of escape and meditation to an otherwise thirsty hill area above the plain. Fatehpur Sikri is though a completely engineered town of sorts that has gardens, watered by an engineered water distribution system, palaces with views across the plain, and mosque, all built largely in red sandstone. Fatehpur Sikri, which means "city of victory", is an appropriate name for such an outstanding complex of Mughal art and power. However, the complex was only used for 15 years due to its impractical location as a government seat of power, as troubles in the north-western frontier of Akbar's empire required he move his court to Lahore.

Blend of Art and Culture

Mosque and Sheik's Tomb

While Akbar himself was illiterate, he took a keen interest in literature, architecture, and the arts. He is also reputed to be a very tolerant ruler, and the buildings at Fatehpur Sikri blended both Islamic and Hindu elements in their architectural style. One of the buildings even reflects the new sycretistic faith founded by Akbar, Din-e-ilahi, which though very short-lived remains a matter of controversy. The tomb of the Sufi Shaikh Salim remains the most important marble edifice of this otherwise largely red sandstone complex. The engineers at Fatehpur Sikri overcame many obstacles regarding the supply and management of water in this hillside city. The views of the valley below are spectacular, and today the community around this UNESCO World Heritage site remains vibrant. However, at the time, the capitol could not be sustained there for lack of a reliable water supply. Son Jahangir and grandson Shah Jahan removed the capital back to Agra Fort, a more practical location for the center of power in India at the time. Thus, Fatehpur Sikri predates the Taj Mahal and the structures at the Agra Fort built by Shah Jahan.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Second Only to Taj Mahal in Agra Area
Cons:Its a drive uphill and the town doesn't have a lot to offer otherwise.
In a nutshell:In four words: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Last visit to Fatehpur Sikri: Jan 1998
Intro Updated May 4, 2007
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Reviews (12)

Miscellaneous Palace Images Things to Do (10)

I have a few images not properly catalogued, and a couple more of familiar places taken from yet a different angle. I... more travel advice

Main Entrance to Fatehpur Sikri Palaces - Fatehpur Sikri

Entrance Architecture of Fatehpur Sikri Things to Do (10)

Unlike Buland Darwaza, there are various entrances in somewhat of a labyrinth to the palaces of Fatehpur Sikri. Most are... more travel advice

Girls Play Hopscotch on Buland Darwaza Steps - Fatehpur Sikri

Hop Scotch and Ferris Wheel Local Customs (2)

The names for these familiar games in Hindu, I don't know, but it's likely that Indian girls played these even before... more travel advice

Cow Dung Distribution System at Fatehpur Sikri - Fatehpur Sikri

Kitchen Fuel and Other Supplies at... Local Customs (2)

On our way around the exterior palace walls, we observed the accumulation of cow dung, a common kitchen fuel in India... more travel advice

Comments (4)

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glabah Jun 16, 2010 at 1:05 PM

Wonderful photos of such a great historic city.
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850prc Jan 7, 2008 at 4:52 PM

Nice page, Alan. We may be headed to Fatehpur Sikri come this November. I'm going to check out your Agra and Jaipur pages, too.
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SLLiew Apr 13, 2007 at 9:52 PM

Magnificent sights :)
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Vulindlela Apr 8, 2007 at 12:53 PM

Wow, Thank you for sharing this place.