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Fatehpur Sikri - built by the Emperor Akbar

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Fatehpur Sikri is a great Mughal city that has the pre-historic reverence and a well-planned set up. It is one of the historic websites which has social relevance besides holding vast history. Sikri is a leeway of the upper ridge of Vindhyan ranges and strategically situated on the banks of huge natural lake that has almost dried up. This beautiful Mughal city was once richly supplied by abundance of water and raw material. The city was surrounded by thick forest cover zone, making it a perfect habitat for peaceful existence. Fatehpur Sikri is the site were archeological survey of India has come out with the stone age tools, and besides, Ochre Cultured Pottery (c. 2nd millennium B.C.) and Painted Grey Ware (c.1200-800 B.C.) have also been found. Fatehpur Sikri also finds the mention in Mahabharata in the name of ‘Saik.’ The meaning of ‘Saik’ comes out as the place enclosed by water. There is also an inscription on the stone sculpture of Jaina Saraswati (that dates back to 1067 Vikram Samvat, 1010 A.D.) symbolizing the place as ‘Sekrikya’, again meaning the place encircled in water. These significant references clearly mark that Fatehpur Sikri existed since the pre-historic period.

It was the Mughal emperor Babur, who during the times of Khanwah battle in A.D. 1527 classifies this place as ‘Sikri’ in his Memoirs. He took deep interest in this place and created a beautiful garden, apart from a Jal-Mahal enclosed by the lake-water. He also took the advantage of building a Baoli (step-well) to memorialize his victory in the battle of Khanwah. Later, the great king Akbar (and grandson of Babur) moved his place of living and kingly matters from Agra to the Fatehpur Sikri for good period of 13 years i.e. 1572 to 1585 for honoring Sufi Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti, who lived here in a grotto at the ridge. The great Mughal Emperor esteemed sufi saint as he had blessed him with the son – Salim in the year 1569.

During this time, Akbar built several buildings and houses for the public. Very soon and gradually, the great city of Fatehpur Sikri became the citadel of charming palaces and variety of institutions. Later on Akbar the great gave him the name of Fathabad, which was popularized as the “Fathpur Sikri.”

After some time, Fatehpur Sikri became the nerve center of many prominent Mughal institutions like the ‘Ibadat-Khanah’, ‘Din-i-Ilahi’, ‘Jharokha-Darshan’, ‘Tarikh-i-Ilahi’as well as the doctrine of Sulh-i-Kul. Sikri is also became the base of liberal patronage to indigenous arts and literatures. The place also holds continuous workshops on different types of handicrafts.

It is far beyond the doubt that Fatehpur Sikri was the first well planned city set up by Mughals during their reign. Fatehpur Sikri had the slopping levels that were efficiently linked to the terraces, utilized for purpose of construction of different complexes like Jami masjid, Buland-DarwazahShahi-Bazar, Mina-Bazar, the Panch-Mahal, Khwabgah, Diwan-i-Khass and tomb of Sheikh SalimChishti; Khass Mahal. Fatehpur Sikri is a classic example of Mughal’s town planning instincts.