Fatehpur Sikri, 16th-century Mughal imperial complex in Agra district, India
Fatehpur Sikri is a walled city built of red sandstone in Agra district, India, featuring palaces, courtyards, mosques, gardens, and an entrance gate over fifty meters tall. The site spreads across several levels with pavilions, living quarters, and public halls connected by staircases and inner courtyards.
Akbar moved the Mughal court here in the late 16th century to bring together religious and political ambitions in a single location. After about fourteen years, he shifted the administration to Lahore because water became scarce and logistical challenges grew.
Visitors today walk through spaces where religious and administrative functions once overlapped, noticing carvings and inscriptions that reflect the devotion of those who built them. The layout also shows how people once gathered in courtyards and prayer halls, giving a sense of how daily routines unfolded.
Walking between buildings is easy because pathways are level and clearly marked throughout the site. Guides can help explain connections between spaces, but many areas remain accessible and readable even without assistance.
The central pillar in the Diwan-i-Khas carries a system of 36 brackets that spread toward the corners, creating an impression of floating support. This arrangement allows the platform above to stand without visible load-bearing walls.
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