Fatehpur Sikri is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India.
The name of the city is derived from the village called Sikri which occupied
the spot before. An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavation from 1999
to 2000 indicated that there was a habitation, temples and commercial centres
here before Akbar built his capital. The region was settled by Sungas
following their expansion. It was controlled by Sikarwar Rajputs from the 7th
to 16th century CE until the Battle of Khanwa (1527).
The khanqah of Sheikh Salim Chishti existed earlier at this place. Akbar's son
Jahangir was born in the village of Sikri to his favourite wife
Mariam-uz-Zamani in 1569 and in that year Akbar began construction of a
religious compound to commemorate the Sheikh who had predicted the birth.
After Jahangir's second birthday, he began the construction of a walled city
and imperial palace here. The city came to be known as Fatehpur Sikri, the
"City of Victory", after Akbar's victorious Gujarat campaign in 1573.
After occupying Agra in 1803, the East India Company established an
administrative centre here and it remained so until 1850. In 1815, the
Marquess of Hastings ordered the repair of monuments at Sikri.
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Entering Fatehpur Sikri Fort.
Situated 35.7 km (22 mi) from the district headquarters of Agra,
Fatehpur Sikri itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in
1571 by Emperor Akbar, serving this role from 1571 to 1585, when Akbar
abandoned it due to a campaign in Punjab and was later completely
abandoned in 1610.
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Fatehpur Sikri Fort Map.
Fatehpur Sikri sits on rocky ridge, 3 km (1.9 mi) in length and 1 km
(0.62 mi) wide and palace city is surrounded by a 6 km (3.7 mi) wall on
three sides with the fourth bordered by a lake.
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The city is generally organised around this 40 m (131 ft) high ridge,
and falls roughly into the shape of a rhombus.
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The general layout of the ground structures, especially the
"continuous and compact pattern of gardens and services and
facilities" that characterised the city leads urban archaeologists to
conclude that Fatehpur Sikri was built primarily to afford leisure and
luxury to its famous residents.
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Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-Aam).
Hall of Public Audience or Diwan-i-Aam, is a building typology found in
many cities where the ruler meets the general public.
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In this case, it is a pavilion-like multi-bayed rectangular structure
fronting a large open space.
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Southwest of Diwan-i-Aam and next to the House of the Turkish Sultana
are the Turkish Baths.
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Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas).
The Hall of Private Audience or Diwan-i-Khas, is a plain square building
with four chhatris on the roof.
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However it is famous for its central pillar, which has a square base
and an octagonal shaft, both carved with bands of geometric and floral
designs, further its thirty-six serpentine brackets support a circular
platform for Akbar, which is connected to each corner of the building
on the first floor, by four stone walkways.
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It is here that Akbar had representatives of different religions
discuss their faiths and gave private audience.
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Water tank (Dadupura).
Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned by Akbar in 1585 when he went to fight a
campaign in Punjab. It was later completely abandoned by 1610. The
reason for its abandonment is usually given as the failure of the water
supply, though Akbar's loss of interest may also have been the reason
since it was built solely on his whim.
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Ralph Fitch described it as such, "Agra and Fatehpore Sikri are two
very great cities, either of them much greater than London, and very
populous. Between Agra and Fatehpore are 12 miles (Kos) and all the
way is a market of victuals and other things, as full as though a man
were still in a town, and so many people as if a man were in a
market."
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Treasury Kiosk (Khazana).
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Astrologer's Seat.
The Astrologer's Seat is a square pavilion built at the corner of the
Treasury on an extended corner floor. Built in red and yellowish stone.
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The shaft of the stone pillar is divided into two sections. The lower
part is square in shape and changes through a floral design to the
octagonal upper part.
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Sinuous support in the form of Makar Torana arches sprouts through the
ornate mouths of the legendary sea creatures that are supported at a
45-degree angle to the axis of the octagonal pillar.
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This pavilion is embellished with finely carved stone arches,
absolutely similar to the Makara Torana found in Hindu temples. Each
is fixed between two pillars and centered on the lintel. In fact,
these are not monolithic and are shaped like two cross brackets. Each
end is held by a legendary sea creature.
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Courtyard.
Panch Palace can be seen on the right side of the photo.
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On the courtyard floor, in the center of the photo, Pachisi Court can
be seen.
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Pachisi Court is a square marked out as a large board game, the
precursor to modern day Ludo game where people served as the playing
pieces. Though many historians argue it to have been constructed in
17th century.
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Panch Palace (Panch Mahal).
Panch Mahal is a five-storied palatial structure, with the tiers
gradually diminishing in size, until the final one, which is a single
large-domed chhatri.
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Originally pierced stone screens faced the facade and probably
sub-divided the interior as well, suggesting it was built for the
ladies of the court.
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The floors are supported by intricately carved columns on each level,
totalling to 176 columns in all.
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Structure in the middle of the courtyard.
This structure is a kind of platform that is in front of Panch Palace.
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South side of the courtyard.
It is on the south side of the courtyard that the Emperor's apartments
are located.
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Ornamental Pool (Anup Talao).
Anup Talao is an ornamental pool with a central platform and four
bridges leading up to it.
- Anup Talao was built by Raja Anup Singh Sikarwar.
- During Akbar’s reign it was filled with perfumed water.
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It is said that sitting on central platform, Akbar’s another Nauratna
and greatest composer musician in Hindustani classical music, Mian
Tansen would perform different ragas at different times of day, and
the Emperor and his select audience would honor him with coins.
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House of Dreams (Khwabgah).
Tha House of Dreams (Khwabgah) was Akbar's residence.
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For someone with the grandeur of Akbar, king and queen size bed’s
wouldn’t suffice. His bed was “emperor size”, with an elevated
sleeping platform and a window for a headboard.
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The bedroom is architectured in such a fashion that it felt cool and
comfortable during a 40 degree Celsius summer afternoon. For winters,
a bonfire was lit under the bed, keeping it warm and cozy for the
emperor.
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Emperor’s library.
This imperial residential complex is composed of two rooms on the ground
floor and a well-ventilated pavilion on the first floor.
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The upper pavilion was embellished with mural paintings and Persian
verses painted in gold.
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The room on the ground floor was the Emperor’s library, where he would
be read to, from a collection of 50,000 manuscripts.
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Akbar was an illiterate, but he had enormous interest in books. He was
very possessive about his books and allegedly took them with him,
wherever he went.
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This room also served as the dining hall. Is it possible that Akbar
was read from the books/manuscripts while he was eating.
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The lower walls of this room are hollow and were covered with sliding
stones. Historians believe that the space was used to store Akbar's
treasure - his valued books and manuscripts.
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Turkish Sultana's Pleasure Pavilion.
The House of Turkish Sultana is a splendid illustration of Mughal
architecture and ornamentations, considered as superb jewel.
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Most probably it was built for the Akbar's chief consort and his
childhood friend Ruqayya Begum.
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It might be Sultana's theme place for fun and pleasure activities.
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Red Sandstone, locally quarried from Fatehpur is used in its
construction.
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It's connected to the ground floor of the Khwabgah through a verandah.
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Mariam's House (Sunehra Makan).
It was the house of emperor Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begum, who was
holding the title of Mariam Makani.
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It's built on a raised platform and can be accessed from all the four
directions as it's surrounded by verandahs in three sides and the
fourth side through a rectangular entrance which is leading to the
hall via a vaulted archway.
- It's a two storey structure though seems to be one.
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It has four rooms with a central room which is a rectangular hall and
surrounded by balconies.
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The first floor has three rooms, visitors don't have access to the
upper floor. The narrow staircase which is leading to the upper floor
is locked.
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The northern side roof top is decorated with Palanquin type or
Chhaparkhat pavilion crowned by two elongated finials.
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Jodhabai Kitchen.
The exterior wall is superb and is finely carved with floral and
geometric motifs.
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A band of earrings are carved horizontally above the door level on the
walls. In zigzag pattern like mat, the lotus figures are also
engraved.
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The front has a stone hanging which is supported by L shape stone
brackets then thick stone wide lintels with flower vine carved on
inner surface and edge with the fringes, over which the stone hanging
are placed and strengthened by constructing parapet on the stone
hanging ends.
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On the way to Birbal's Palace.
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Birbal's Palace.
Raja Birbal was an advisor, a commander and a minister in Akbar's Court.
He was the most favourite Navratna of Akbar and he was the most trusted
courtiers of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was a main commander besides he
was a poet and a singer too.
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Birbal's palace is situated close to the Royal Hurrem, which displays
his importance.
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This is a two storey structure. In the construction of this palace,
special attention has been taken to the size and appearance.
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The ground floor has four rooms and two porticos and the upper floor
has two rooms, terraces which are enclosed by stone screens.
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The porticos have pyramidal roofs made with red stone and crowned by
elongated finials at the centre of two inverted lotuses in each roof.
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The first floor rooms have two hemispherical domes built on octagonal
rims flanked by finials at the centre of inverted lotuses.
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Each room of the first floor has a hanging balcony supported by two
stone brackets.
- Each open terrace can be accessed from both rooms.
- Visitors are not permitted to visit the first floor.
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Akbar's Stables (Bala Haramsara).
Bala Haramsara means Lower Haramsara and is popularized as Stables for
Camels, Elephants and Horses.
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It is a large walled area that used to have an entrance on the north
side but it is damaged.
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On three sides, a rectangular porch remains, which surrounds a
rectangular patio. These balconies are open facing the courtyard.
- The complete structure is built in red sandstone.
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The roof is supported by a series of rectangular stone pillars and the
lintels rest on simple engineered stone capitals and eaves consoles.
The stone hangings are supported by eaves brackets. The back wall has
large rectangular shelves, two in each section.
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Main gate of Jodha Bai Palace.
Jodha Bai Palace consists of a rectangular block with a single
magnificent gateway on the eastern side, which was protected by guard
rooms, and has triangular ceilings, and other apartments.
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The eastern gateway of the palace is exceedingly magnificent and is of
typical Rajasthani architecture.
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Jodha Bai Palace.
Jodha Bai Palace was commissioned by Akbar in her honour and was the
largest residential palace in his harem. It is also known as Raniwas and
Zenani Dyodhi. It shows the Rajput influence and is built around a
courtyard, with special care being taken to ensure privacy.
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The Bedchamber (Khawabgah) of this palace is a beautiful and spacious
double-storey complex. The palace comprises a Hindu temple and a Tulsi
math used by his Hindu wife for worship. This palace was internally
also connected to the palace of Akbar. Several Hindu motifs have been
used in the building alongside Lord Krishna depictions on the walls,
which confirms that the occupant of the building was a Hindu lady.
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This palace has distinct Gujarati and Rajasthani architectural
patterns. Many motifs can be found in the interior like swans,
elephants, parrots, Srivastava marks, etc.
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The western suite in the palace which served as a temple contains
vedikas and other Hindu motifs. It contains beautiful curvilinear
pillars with brackets.
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The superstructure of the building comprises chhatris, pillars with
wall brackets, semicircular domes, and several niches.
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The palace is built with red sandstone making it seem captivating.
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See also
Source
Location
