Group of Monuments - Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a city built from red sandstone that sits on a gentle hill with careful planning shown in its straight lines and open squares. The buildings display craftsmanship through simple beams, arches, and occasional domes that create varied silhouettes across the skyline.
Mughal emperor Akbar founded the city around 400 years ago between 1571 and 1585 as his capital. After just a few decades, he abandoned it due to lack of water and moved his capital to Lahore, leaving Fatehpur Sikri largely deserted.
The name Fatehpur Sikri comes from the word "Fateh," which means victory. The city served as a meeting place where different cultural influences merged, visible in how Hindu columns stand alongside Muslim domes throughout the structures.
The site is open from sunrise to sunset and can be explored on foot at a leisurely pace. It helps to walk slowly and observe each corner, as the place functions like an open-air museum with quiet corners and open spaces that invite exploration.
Archaeologists found old tools and paintings near a dried-up lake, showing that the area was inhabited long before Akbar built the city. These earlier traces reveal a much older human history at this location.
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