As a cultural site under the category (ii),
(iii) & (iv), this place was inscribed as a world heritage site (recognized
by UNESCO) in 1986. This historical site (also popularly called as ‘The City of Victory’), which was
constructed during the 2nd half of the 16th century by
the 3rd Mughal Emperor Akbar (1555-1605), is located in Agra
district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
As a pre-historic site, Fatehpur Sikri
(Victory on Sikri) was known as Sikri,
mentioned in the memoirs of the 1st Mughal Emperor Babur, an
extension of the upper Vindhyan ranges & mentioned in the Mahabharata as
‘Saik’ (a region surrounded by water) which is located on the bank of a vast
natural lake, now mostly dried up. To honor the Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti
residing at this place in a cavern on the ridge & blessing Akbar, the grandson
of Babur, with a son named Salim later Jahangir born in 1569, Akbar shifted the
capital of the Mughal Empire from Agra to this city for only some 13 years from
1572 to 1585 because it had to be abandoned owing to two reasons of lack of
water & unrest in north-west India
& had to be shifted the capital to Lahore. Akbar constructed lofty
buildings for his use & houses for the public. Akbar provided the great
city with beautiful palaces & institutions the name of ‘Fatehabad’ &
which in later days became famous as ‘Fatehpur Sikri’.
That time, this was the 1st
planned city of the Mughals with the slanting levels of it adjoined to terraces
used for many complexes built of red sandstone such as Buland Darwazah (the
highest gate in the world), Jami Masjid (one of the largest mosque in India,
165 m by 133 m in space), tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, Khas Mahal, Shahi Bazaar,
the Panch Mahal, Mina Bazaar, Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audience),
Khwabgah, Anup Talao, Diwan-e-Am, Chupar, Etc. These are the main visiting
points of this city.
How to reach:
The distance of Fatehpur Sikri from Agra is
39 km. Agra Airport, which is the nearest airp0rt to Fatehpur Sikri
& 40 km in the distance, is also known as Kheria Airport. Fatehpur
Sikri is the nearest railway station approx 1 km. far from the city center
& this city is well-connected to Agra & adjoining centers by the ways
of road, where daily bus services of UPSRTC are provided, apart from
tourist buses & taxies.
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