SIKRI FACTS

Founded in AD1571 by Akbar,

the third Moghal ruler of India
37 km West of Agra

History

Akbar chose Sikri, a village

between Agra and Ajmer for his
capital city.
Built in honour of Shaikh Salimud-din Chisti. Chisti had
predicted that Akbar would be
blessed with three sons.
Fatehpur Sikris architecture was
a synthesis of Timurid, Persian
and Indian architecture.
Renamed Sikri as Fatehpur Sikri
to commemorate victory over
Gujarat.
Capital of Akbar for 14 years
1571-85. Abandoned after that.
The reason for abandoning the
city could be shortage of water
or strategic considerations.

Din-i-Ilahi

Akbar promulgated a
consensual religion whose
defacto authority lay with the
emperor
Official account of the divine
faith is given in Abul Fazls Ain-iAkbari
It had no temple or mosque , no
scriptures or religious books

Chisti and Sufism

Chistis were a sub-sect of Sufis.

The word Sufi is derived from
suf or wool and referred to the
woolen robes worn by
wandering mendicants.
Sufism traced its base to
knowledge imparted by prophet
Mohammed called Ilm-i-batin or
renunciation and absolute
absorption in God as opposed
to Knowledge of rules practiced
by Mullahs

City Area

Naubat khana where imperial drums

were beaten to announce arrival of
emperor

Akbars Tomb

important Mughal architectural

masterpiece
built 1605-1613 at Sikandra,
Agra
The third Mughal Emperor
Akbar the Great (15551605),
himself commenced its
construction in around 1600,
according to Tartary tradition to
commence the construction of
one's tomb during one's
lifetime.
Akbar himself planned his own
tomb and selected a suitable
site for it.
After his death, Akbar's son
Jahangir completed the
construction in 1605-1613.
Akbar was one of the greatest
emperors of his time. This was
not known until later on
because his burial chamber laid
on a 20 by 5 acre plot of land.
About 1 km away from the
tomb, lies Mariam's Tomb, the
tomb of Mariam-uz-Zamani,
wife of the Mughal Emperor
Akbar and the mother of
Jahangir.
The south gate is the largest,
with four white marble chhatritopped minarets which are
similar to those of the Taj
Mahal, and is the normal point
of entry to the tomb. The tomb
itself is surrounded by a walled
enclosure 105 m square. The
tomb building is a four-tiered
pyramid, surmounted by a
marble pavilion containing the
false tomb. The true tomb, as in
other mausoleums, is in the
basement.
The buildings are constructed
mainly from a deep red
sandstone, enriched with
features in white marble.
Decorated inlaid panels of
these materials and a black
slate adorn the tomb and the
main gatehouse. Panel designs
are geometric, floral and
calligraphic, and prefigure the
more complex and subtle

designs later incorporated in

Itmad-ud-Daulah's Tomb.

Diwan-i-Aam

or Hall of Public Audience

Typically where the ruler meets
the general public.
Colonnaded courtyard with a
projecting emperors pavillion
Pavillion has five equal
openings; emporer sat in
central bay on cushions and
carperts
A great stone ring used to
tether elephebt for crushing
offenders to death or for
exhibition of elephants?

Daulat Khana

Abode of Fortune
Comprises Diwan-i-Khass,
Diwan-Khana -i-Khass, Anup
Talao, Turkish Sultanas pavilion

Diwan-i-Khas

Most widely photographed

building
Hall of private audience
Also called Jewel House and
Ibadat Khana
Massive richly carved pillar
supporting elaborate capital
Four diagonal bridges connect
the pillar
Maybe , the column stands for
the axis of the world and hence
supreme power
Akbar sat on the central
platform listening to religious
arguments signifying his

dominion over the Four

Quarters

Ankh Michauli

Literally blind mans buff

Little possibility that Akbar
played this game with wimen of
his harem. His days and night
passed in constant hard work.
Maybe, this is the imperial
treasury

Two chambered pavilion

Emperor meets closest advisors
Lower walls hollow, probably for
storing books
Platform where emperor sat
adorned with carpets and
cushion
Window on southern wall was
used for jharoka darshan.
Beautiful chamber on first floor
was emperors private room,
known as Khwabgah or sleeping
chamber.
Suspended charpai used for
courtiers Abul Fazl, birbal and
other Sufi saints to converse
with the emperor

Anup Talao

The kiosk is called Astrologers

Seat, which has luxurious
brackets.
Mayb the emperor sits here to
watch the distribution of
wages(copper coins) to officers

Diwan Khana-i-khas

Or peerless tank
29 m square tank
It has a central island linked by
four bridges to its sides

Turkish Sultanas pavilion

The carvings on bracket , pillars

ams pilasters are intricate, they
appear to be done by wood
carvers
It is unliley the building was a
zenana residence since it is
located close to mardana
section
It was probably a pavilion for
repose

Grouping of double columns

Enclosure sheltered Akbars
translation bureau.

Imperial harem

Where women of royal

household lived in protected
environs
Comprises Panch mahal, Jodh
bais palace, mariams house
and Birbals House
The senior queen was the
mistress of the house and
guardian of two royal seals
Akbars mother hamida banu
Begum was the principal lady of
the court and given the title of
maryam makani meaning of
rank equal to mary
Akbar was the first Muslim ruler
to permit his wifes to continue
following their faith

Jodh Bais palace

Pachisi

Large courtyard of red sand

stone between Anup talao and
Diwan-i-khass
Some of the paving stones are
laid out to resemble the Indian
board game of pachisi
Legend says emperor played
the game using slave girls as
pieces

Daftar khana

Residence of a number of
emperors principal wives and
not just jodh Bai
Single entrance
The balconies allowed view of
outside but concealed the
interiors

Principal entrance , once

guarded by eunuchs is double
storied
Ribbed ceiling on upper floor
Viaduct for privacy
Hawa Mahal against the
northern exterior wall

North west is a secluded garden

based on charbagh concept
with a fish pond
Char bagh concept

Panch mahal

Birbals House

Columnar structure with four

storeys of decreasing size
176 columns
(84+56+21+12+4)
No two columns are alike (fleurde-lis, bell and chain motif,
weaves)
Modeled oon the Persian
badger or wind catcher to
mitigate the intense summer
heat

Maryams house

Or Sunahra makan because of

the beautiful murals and gold
colored paintings that once
adorned it
Stone eaves show Rama
attended by hanuman, pair of
fat geese
Akbars mother, mariam Zamani
lived here

Unlikley Birbal could have

occupied a house in the Zanana
Probable occupants might be
any senior Queens
Conjoining of two architectutall
traditions Hindhu and Islamic

Jami masjid and Chisti

monuments

Buland Darwaza

Or lofty gate
Most arrogant assertion of
Akbars imperial power
Southern side of Jami Masjid
40 m high + 12 mof steps
Style similar to Humayuns Tomb
The principal Arch stands in the
midst of 3 projecting sides of
an octogen
3 horizontal panels of buff
stone prevent illusion of top
point bearing down
It carries two inscriptions in the
archway, one of which reads:
"Isa(Jesus) Son of Mary said:
The world is a bridge, pass over
it, but build no houses on it. He
who hopes for an hour may
hope for eternity. The world
endures but an hour. Spend it in
prayer, for the rest is unseen".

Salim Chistis tomb

An architectura cameo
Last years of his life, Shisti
abandoned his cell beside
stonecutters mosque for a new
khanqah to the north of jami
masjid
Burial of Sufi dsaint where they
lived their austere life is a
tradition in India
Sepentine brackets and
jalliwork
Badshahi Darwaza
Projects from the wall of the
mosque like a half-heagoanl
porch
18.6 m high
Entrance to the dargah complex
The actual gateway within is
reduced to human proportions
by device perfected in iran