Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri is an abandoned Mughal capital in the Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, about 37 km west of Agra. The emperor Akbar built it from 1571 beside the village of Sikri, home of the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti, and the court moved there before the site was left within roughly fifteen years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built almost entirely of red sandstone. The complex divides into a royal palace area and the Jama Masjid precinct. In the palace area, visitors walk through the Diwan-i-Am, the Diwan-i-Khas with its single carved central pillar, the Panch Mahal, a five-storey pavilion of open colonnades, and residences associated with Akbar's queens, as well as the courtyard laid out as a giant pachisi board. The Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques of its period in India, is entered through the Buland Darwaza, a monumental gateway of around 54 metres, and the white marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti sits in its courtyard, with finely carved jali screens. A full visit takes about three hours. Best vantage points include the top of the Buland Darwaza steps, the terraces of the Panch Mahal and the courtyard of the tomb. Morning light suits photography, and the site is quietest on weekdays outside the cooler months. The palace area and the mosque are at different levels and are separated by a short walk, so comfortable shoes are useful. Touts and unofficial guides approach visitors in the parking area and near the mosque, and visitors often agree a price with an official guide before starting. Shoes must be removed at the tomb and mosque, and shoulders and knees should be covered. Many visitors combine the site with Agra in a single long day trip, often stopping at Bharatpur's bird sanctuary or travelling on toward Jaipur.