Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri

A charming congregation of grand fairy-tale structures built in red sandstone and marble, Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 37 km. from Agra. Mughal Emperor Fatehpur Sikri got it constructed in the 16th century and declared it the empire’s capital replacing Agra. However, the city was deserted within 13 years mainly due to ineffective water system. Today, it stands gracefully as a ghost city with its time-honoured monuments easily attracting tourists from all over. Blending Islamic, Hindu and Jain architectures, along with features of Gujarat and Bengal architecture schools, the city complex on a raised platform is accessible by numerous massive gateways like Delhi Gate, Agra Gate, Lal Gate, Ajmere Gate, Gwalior Gate and many more. Though every single monument is worth visiting, the most notable ones include Buland Darwaza, Tomb of Salim Chishti, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Naubat Khana, Panch Mahal and Pachisi Court. Friday Mosque (Jama Masjid), Anup Talao (an ornamental pool) and sections like mints, treasuries, royal workshops and royal residences add to the grandeur of the complex. Foreign travellers can buy a combined ADA ticket worth INR 500 per head to explore all famous monuments of Agra along with Fatehpur Sikri in a single day.