Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri Agra - Overwhelmed by the grace of Sufi saint Salim Chisti who blessed him with a son, Akbar planned a new capital in his honour at Fatehpur Sikri, 40 km from his capital Agra. However, the new city's glory was short lived as the paucity of water forced the administration to return to Agra.

Fatehpur Sikri is a World Heritage site, and its construction shows the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Bengal. Well laid out courtyards, pools, harems and mosques city reflect Akbar's proclivity for informality and open spaces. Some of the monuments that are witness to the old glory of Fatehpur are the Buland Darwaza, Diwan-i-Am, the Diwan-i-Khas, Raja Birbal's Haveli, Jodhabai's Palace, Panch Mahal and the famous Anup Talao where Tansen performed at different hours of the day. A white marble mausoleum for Salim Chisti is also one of the landmark monuments of Fatehpur Sikri, located within Jama Masjid.