The royal city at Fatehpur Sikri, situated 26 miles west of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, was the political capital of India`s Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar`s reign. This city was built on the Sikri ridge, in honor of Saint Shaikh Salim Chisti. A very famous legend says that Akbar was without a heir for a long time and hence he made a pilgrimage to the Sufi saint, Shaikh Salim Chisti, to seek his blessings. Later, when a son, Emperor Jehangir was born to him, Akbar built the new capital to mark his birth. It is here, that the legends of Akbar and his clever courtier Birbal must have arisen. Another of his navaratnas, Tansen, perhaps had performance spaces integrated within the architecture of this fort.

From 1571 until 1585, this city was full of well planned administrative, residential and religious buildings. The buildings at Fatehpur Sikri blended both Islamic and Hindu elements in their architectural style. Now marked as a World Heritage site, some architects have also cited it as an important source of inspiration. Today this ghost city has a population of about 30,000. This deserted city has retained many of the old structures, because of the efforts of the Archaeological department. One of the buildings even reflects the new syncretistic faith founded by Akbar, Din-e-ilahi, which though very short-lived remains a matter of controversy. 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).

Site & Architecture
The layout of the city has a conscious attempt to produce rich spatial effects by the organization of built forms around open spaces in interesting ways. Of particular note is the way in which shifts in axes occur as one moves along the city and the location of squares in important places with buildings forming a backdrop or envelope. Unlike other important Mughal cities, Fatehpur Sikri has aspects of informality and improvisation. Indeed, the newly constructed city bore a similarity to the movable imperial encampment also designed by Akbar.

The buildings of Fatehpur Sikri have a synthesis of various regional schools of architectural craftsmanship such as Gujarati, Bengali, due to the indigenous craftsman from various regions were used for the construction of the buildings. Influences from Hindu and Jaina architecture are seen hand in hand with Islamic elements. The building material predominantly used is red sandstone, quarried from the same rocky outcrop on which it is situated. The construction of the buildings commenced, with its elaborate palaces, formal courtyards, reflecting pools, harems, tombs and a great mosque. However, shortly after the work was completed fifteen years later, it was realized that there was a lack of an adequate water supply and the pristine complex was abandoned.

The Panch Mahal, or Palace of Five Storeys, and the Buland Darwaza, a massive gate which provides entrance to the complex, number among the finest specimens of Mughal architecture. Some of the important buildings in this city, both religious and secular buildings, are as follows:

Jami Masjid: One of the largest mosques in India, the Jami mosque was built in 1571 AD and it was among the first buildings to come up. This is also known as the Dargah Mosque, as it is said to be a copy of the main mosque at Mecca. It is noted for its design, which has Persian and Hindu elements. It is entered through the eastern entrance known as the Buland Darwaza. Inside, there is a vast congregational courtyard. To the right, at the corner, is the Jammat Khana Hall and next to this is the tomb of the royal ladies. To the left of the Jami Masjid is the Stone Cutters` mosque, the oldest place of worship at Fatehpur Sikri. Now, just outside the gateway is a deep well and the Shahi Darwaza is the official entrance.

Buland Darwaza: This gate, which is 54 meters high, can be approached from the outside by a 13-metre flight of steps, which adds to its grandeur. This Darwaza, which is also known as the Gate of Victory, was erected in 1602 AD to commemorate Akbar`s victory over Deccan is the highest and grandest gateway in India and ranks among the biggest in the world. A Koranic inscription upon it read, "The world is a bridge, pass over it but built no house upon it. He, who hopes for an hour, hopes for Eternity, for the world is but an hour".

Diwan-I-Am: It is also known as the Hall Of Public Audience. This hall was designed for large public gatherings and also for celebrations and public prayers. It has cloisters on three sides of a rectangular courtyard. To the west is a pavilion with the Emperor`s throne. Beautiful jali screen on either side separated the ladies attending the court. Nearby is Pachisi courtyard, where Akbar and his courtiers used slave girls attired in brilliant dress as pieces of pachisi (a game similar to ludo), moving when ordered on a giant marble board.

Turkish Sultana`s House: To the left of the Pachisi Board is the Turkish Sultana`s house. The house, as its location at the corner of Anup Talao shows, was a pavilion for repose, attached to the pool. The geometrical pattern on the ceiling is reminiscent of Central Asian carvings in wood.

Diwan-I-Khaas: To the right there is an apparently looking two storeyed building, with corner kiosks, known as diwan- I-khaas or Hall Of Private Audience. This building is Fatehpur Sikri`s architectural gem, known for its unique decoration. On entering it, one finds only a single vaulted chamber, which is dominated by its massive central Lotus Throne Pillar that supported Akbar`s throne. In the centre stands a profusely carved column supporting a collosal-bracketed capital. This stone column supports a flat-topped dome which is 6 m high. Four narrow causeways project from the centre and run to each corner of the chamber. It is believed that Akbar`s throne occupied the circular space over the capital and the corners were assigned to the four ministers.

The Treasury: To the left of the Diwan-I-Khaas is the Treasury or Ankh Michauli, once believed to have been used for playing the game, comprising three rooms each protected by a narrow corridor which was manned by guards.

Daulat khana-I-Khas: Located in the corner to the left is the emperor`s private chamber, which has two main rooms on the ground floor. One room was used as Akbar`s library while the larger room was his resting area. On the first floor is the Khwabgah or the bedchamber. It was connected with the Turkish Sultana`s house, the Panch Mahal, Mariam`s House and the Palace of Jodha Bai`s by corridors.

Palace of Jodha Bai: To the left of the Sunehra Makan is the largest and the most important building in the royal palace, named after Akbar`s Rajput wife and the mother of Salim (emperor Jehangir) Jodha Bai. This was the principal harem wing, which she presided imperiously from her spacious purdah - screened salon. This spacious palace was assured of privacy and security by high walls and a 9 metre guarded gate to the east. The architecture is a blend of styles with Hindu columns and Muslim cupolas.

Hawa Mahal and Nagina Masjid: To the right of Jodha Bai`s palace is Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds. This small-screened wind tower faces the garden and is attached to the palace. The walls of this palace are made entirely of stone latticework. The garden is laid out in the Char Bagh style with straight walls intersecting at right angles and divided by shallow channels. To the north west of the Jodha Bai`s Palace is the 2-storied palace occupied by Akbar`s two senior queens- Ruqnayya Begum and Salima Sultan Begum. It has two storeys-four rooms and two porches with pyramid roofs below and two rooms with cupolas and screened terraces above. The building combines hindu and muslim styles of architecture.

Palace of the Christian Wife: There was an abode for Akbar`s Christian wife from Goa, Maryam, located close to the Jodha Bai Palace. At one time it was gilded throughout, earning the name the Golden Facade.

Birbal`s Palace: This casket like palace belonged to Raja Birbal, Akbar`s brilliant Brahimin prime minister, one of the "None Jewels of Akbar`s Court". The palace fronts onto the Lower Haramsara, which was once believed to be an enormous stable with nearly two hundred enclosures for elephants, horses and camels.

Sunehra Makan: Opposite to the Diwan-I-Khas is the two-storeyed palace of Akbar`s Rajput wife, Mariam-Uz-Zamani. Gold murals in Persian style richly adorn this building and the beams have inscriptions of verses by Akbar`s brother, Faizi.

Panch Mahal: To the right of Sunehra Makan is the elegant, airy 5 storeyed pavilion, the Panch Mahal. Each floor over here is smaller than the one below and it rises to a single domed kiosk on top supported by four columns providing a magnificent view of the city and its environs. Akbar made this building especially for the personal citadel of pleasure. Here, he would spend his evenings with the ladies of the harem. Nearby is the Astrologer`s seat, an ornamented pavilion where the resident astrologer played an important role in day-to-day court life.

Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti: To the North of the Mosque is the Dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti, built in 1570. The tomb visited by many seeking fulfilment of their wishes. The carved marble lattice screens (jalis) work in the Dargah is among the finest to be found any where in India. Within the courtyard is another tomb of Islam Khan, the saint`s garden.

Karawan Serai and Hiran Minar: The Karawan Sarai was a large courtyard used by visiting merchants. The Hiran or Deer Minar is said to have been erected over the grave of Akbar`s favourite elephant.