Thursday, January 13, 2011

The finest monuments within this area

Agra-6907_62.JPG

Around 35 to 40 km from Agra, lies Fatehpur Sikri, a city built predominantly in red sandstone. Built by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri is one of the finest examples of Mughal architectural splendour at its height. It is the best example of the culmination of Hindu and Muslim architecture.

Fatehpur Sikri Mosque is said to be a copy of the mosque in Mecca and its designs are derived from the Persian & Hindu architecture. It was Akbar's capital for approximately 12 years, with Akbar choosing Sikri as the seat of his government because he believed it to be auspicious. He experimented both with architecture and art and built a city showcasing his ideals and vision.

The finest monuments within this area are the Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, Buland Darwaza and the tomb of Saint Sheikh Salim Chishti and the Jama Masjid (one of the largest mosques in India). However shortage of water compelled Akbar to abandon the city. The gigantic 54 metres high Buland Darwaza, the Gate of Victory, inscribed with verses from the Koran, is the main entrance. It was constructed to commemorate Akbar's victory.

Just outside the gateway is a deep well wherein local daredevils leap from the top of the entrance into the water, which is highly recommended as a ‘must watch’. The Shahi Darwaza is the official entrance, where licensed guides can be hired.

Other places worth seeing at Fatehpur Sikri are:

Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti: The tomb was built in 1570 with carved marble & beautiful lattice screens and till today, is visited by hordes of believers for fulfillment of their wishes.

Diwan-i-Khas: Fatehpur Sikri's architectural gem, the Diwan-i-Khas is a single vaulted chamber dominated by its massive central Lotus Throne Pillar that supported Akbar's throne. This stone column supports a flat topped dome which is 6 metres high.

Diwan-i-Aam: This hall was designed for large public gatherings. Nearby is the Pachisi courtyard, where Akbar and his courtiers used slave girls, attired in brilliant dresses, as pieces of pachisi (a game similar to ludo), moving when ordered on a giant marble board.

Today, though Fatehpur Sikri is a deserted, phantom city, it has retained many of the old structures and is definitely worth a visit while in Agra.

No comments:

Labels

Aihole tourism ALAPPUZ TOURISM Alchi tourism Amber Fort Anantasagaram tourim Andhra Pradesh tourism Archaeological Museum Architecture of Fatehpur Sikri assam tourism Attractions in Ranthambhore National पार्क RAJASTHAN Bandhavgarh TOURISM Bhandeswari Jain Temple bihar tourism bopal tourism chandigad tourism Chandigarh tourism Chandigarh. tourism Chennai tourism Chill On The Hills Chittorgarh Travel TOURISM City Palace City Palace – RAJASTHAN City Palace – Jaipur RAJASTHAN City Palace – Udaipur City Palace – जयपुर RAJASTHAN City Palace – जयपुर TOURISM Coimbatore Coimbatore tourism Coimbatore. tourism Dancesrajasthan Delhi Delhi tourism Delhi tourism Delhi tourism Delhi Tourism india Delhi. tourism Delhi.tourism delhitourism Delwara Jain Temple Desert National Park RAJASTHAN dharampuri tourism dilhi tourism dinath of a hill. Durgapur tourism Fatehpur Sikri Fatehpur Sikri Agra fatehpursikari Fathehpur Sikri place Flora in Ranthambhore National पार्क RAJASTHAN Fruits of Jain Architecture Gajner Palace: RAJASTHAN Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Gardens of Rajasthan goa tourism Gujarat Tourism Guwahati tourism Hawa Mahal himachalpradesh tourism India India. Jain हवेली RAJASTHAN Jaipur Jaipur:Monuments of Rajasthan Jaisalmer City RAJASTHAN Jal Mahal jamnagartourism Jantar Mantar Jharkhand TOURISM Jodhpur City RAJASTHAN Junagarh फोर्ट RAJASTHAN Karnataka and Tourism Karnataka tourism Karnataktourism kartnataktourism kasmir tourism Kathmandu tourism Kerala t ourism Kochi tourism Kolyatji RAJASTHAN Kumbhalgarh फोर्ट RAJASTHAN Kumbhalgarh फोर्ट रास्थान TOURISM Kutch Ran Utsav Lake Palace Lakes of Rajasthan Lalgarh Palace Lalgarh PALACE RAJASTHAN Languages of Rajasthan Lonavala TOURISM Maharashtra tourism Mandawa Travel गुइदे rajasthan Mandem tourism manipur tourism Meghalaya tourism Mehrangarh Fort MIZORAM tourism Mount Abu is a jodhpur Mount Abu Tourism Mount Abu Travel TOURISM Mount Abu Travel Guide rajasthan Mt. Abu Tourism Mughal एम्पिरें Fatehpur Sikri Museum and Art Gallery Museums in Rajasthan Music of Rajasthan National Parks in Rajasthan - National Parks in Rajasthan -- Neora Valley National Park tourism Orissa tourism Patan. tourism People of Rajasthan Pilgrimage in Rajasthan pune tourism Purana कुइला डेल्ही tousim Pushkar City TOURISM Raiganj tourism Rajasthan Rajasthan tourism Rajasthan सफारी tourism Ranthambhore National पार्क RAJASTHAN Ranthambore City TOURISM Ranthambore National Park Rayadurg tourim Salimgarh फोर्ट tourism Samode InformationRajasthan Sand Dunes of Rajasthan School of Spirituality Shekha Narayan. Sikkim TOURISM Srinagar tourism tabahaltourism Tamil Nadu TOURISM Taste The Honey And Buy The Moon Temrupalle tourism The history of बीकानेर RAJASTHAN the posh south Delhi colonies. The Ranthambhore National Park Thiruvanthipuram tourism Tour tourism Travel Tripura tourism Udaipur Udaipur Travel TOURISM Udaipur: rajasthan Umaid Bhawan Palace utranchal tourism Uttar Pradesh tourism Uttarakhand tourism visitor ’s attraction. Vridhachalam tourism Vrindavan tourism west bangal tourism उदैपुर RAJASTHAN उदैपुर TOURISM उदैपुर राजस्थान TOURISM कर्णाटक .Mysore Tourism कर्णाटक tourism चंदिगढ tourism जयपुर RAJASTHAN जयपुर RASTHAN जयपुर TOURISM जैसलमेर RAJASTHAN जोधपुर RAJASTHAN जोधपुर राजस्थान डेल्ही tourism तमिलनाडु TOURISM दिल्ही tourism दिल्ही tourism फतेहपुर sikari बंगलोरे tourism बंगलोरे कर्णाटक tourism बीकानेर RAJASTHAN बीकानेर RAJASTHAN TOURISM मेघालय tourism मोनुमेंट rajasthan राजस्था न tourism राजस्थान tourism राजस्थान tourism सिटी palacerajasthan हिमाचल प्रदेश