Fatehpur Sikri Things to Do Tips by RAJASTHANBYCAR

Todarmal Palace/Record Room

Todarmal Palace Daftarkhana, or record office.

Birbal Palace

This casket like palace belonged to Raja Birbal, Akbar's brilliant Brahimin prime minister, one of the "None Jewels of Akbar's Court". The palace fronts onto the Lower Haramsara, which was once believed to be an enormous stable with nearly two hundred enclosures for elephants, horses and camels.

Maryam Palace

Palace of the Christian Wife there was a reperate abode for Akbar's Christian wife from Goa, Maryam, located close to the Jodha Bai Palace. At one time it was gilded throughout, earning the name the Golden Facade.

Hiran Minar/Deer Minar

Hiran or Deer Minar is located in the open plains. This 21m high tower got its name after Jehangir converted the polo ground around the tower into a sanctuary for hiran (antelopes). The tower is entered through a flat-topped door bordered by sand stone panel and flanked by closed arched panels. There are 57 steps leading to the top inside the tower. One can get a bird's eye view of Fatehpur Sikri from the top of the tower.

Anup Talao

Anup Talao situated in the front of Khawabgah complex was one of the most mentioned tanks at Fatehpur Sikri. This square red sand stone tank had a beautiful platform enclosed by a jalied balustrade in its center.The raised seat in the middle of this platform perhaps presented the most romantic loveseat ever conceived inside a building.It is said that music performances were held here and acclaimed musicians of Akbar's court, like Tansen, sat on the central platform entertaining the emperor.
This platform is connected to the sides of the tank via four causeways that were supported on the stoned pillar with bracketed capitals.

Address: Fatehpur Sikri fort complax

Diwan-I-Khas

Diwan-i-Khas is Fatehpur Sikri's architectural gem, this structure is unique for its interior decoration. This single vaulted chamber is dominated by its massive central Lotus Throne Pillar that supported Akbar's throne. This stone column support a flat topped dome which is 6 m high.Akbar sit in the middle with his trusted ministers surrounding him from all sides? That would make him very vulnerable, won't it.

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Jodhabai Palace

Jodhabai’s Palace is the largest of all the palaces, it housed Akbar’s queens. This was the principal harem wing for Akbar's Hindu wives, over which Jodha Bai, mother of Salim (emperor Jehangir) presided imperiously from her spacious purdah - screened salon.The architecture of the building is a blend of styles with Hindu columns and Muslim cupolas.Here stylistic elements of Gujarat, Mandu and Gwalior are blended with traditional Islamic designs. Its blue tiled roof is the only splash of colour in Fatehpur Sikri.

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Turkish Sultana's House

Turkish Sultana's House is too small for being a residential building. It is more probably the 'Hujra-I-Anup Talao, mentioned by Badauni, a pleasure pavilion attached to the pond and might have been used by the Turkish queens for this purpose. The pavilion has square piers. It is connected to the ground floor of the Khwabgah complex through a colonnaded verandah and has a portico in the west. Both the verandah and portico has a stone screen with latticework.

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Diwan-i-Am

Diwan-I-Am or Hall of Public Audience, situated, where Akbar heard petitions of the general public and did justice every morning. In the afternoon, he used to inspect his offices situated adjacent to this spacious complex. The colonnaded dalan surrounding it is divided into 111 bays by the use of square pillars. The most impressive feature of this complex is the Throne Chamber facing east. It is said that it was so built because of Akbar's belief in 'sun worship'. This chamber showcases a unique stone tiled roof and a exquisitely carved frieze.

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Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chisti

The white marble, jewel-like tomb of the saint lies in the courtyard of the mosque. Its interior is ornamented with mother-of-pearl, lapis-lazuli and topaz. It has became a popular wish-fulfilling shrine.

Address: Fatehpur Sikri