Fatehpur Sikri: The Abandoned Capital City (Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India)

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Author wishes the reader that her/his journey of 'Fatehpur Sikri The Abandoned Capital City', through pictures, would kindle thoughts and action for an adventure, and motivate some readers to make a trip to Fatehpur Sikri.

For those who have visited Fatehpur Sikri, it should be a 'trip down memory lane' and a 'reminder of what you saw', 'where you needed to spend more time', and maybe 'what you missed'.

Fatehpur Sikri is a reminder that culture of yesteryears display a high level of scientific understanding, with an aesthetic touch.

The foundation of most buildings with stone flooring and the associated drainage system are intact even after four and a half centuries.

For every visitor/reader there is a connect to your profession, to social aspects, to stories you have read or heard architect, builder, city planner, student.

The reader can imagine the journey of pink/red stone mined in Bharatpur/Dholpur as jumbo blocks on animal drawn carts to the Fatehpur Sikri complex and transformation by highly skilled artisans sculpting it as ornate pillars, lintels/beams, lattice work, geometric designs, floral and other motifs, stone frills and walls, most of which are made from a single stone, breathing life into it.

fatehpur Sikri (Fateh means victory, Pur means place, and Sikri is the name of the village), founded as capital of the Mughal Empire in 1571 by Akbar, and ruled till 1585, was initially abandoned due to a campaign in undivided Punjab (now in India and Pakistan).

Fatehpur Sikri recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, in two close locations the Buland Darwaza and the Chishti Tomb in the first and the Fatehpur (fort/palace) complex in the second, has several palaces/buildings including:

1. Buland Darwaza and the Chishti tomb comprising Buland Darwaza; Islam Khan's Tomb; Jama Masjid; Shahi Darwaza; Sheikh Salim Chishti's Tomb.

2. Jodha Bai Mahal (Palace).

3. Fatehpur Complex comprising Anup Talao; Birbal's House; Diwan-i-Aam, (Hall of Public Audience); Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) or Ibadat Khana or Din-e-Ilahi Mahal; Diwan Khana-i-Khas or Khwabgah (House of Dreams) or Akbar's residence; Hammam (Turkish Baths); Pachisi Court (square marked as a large board game); Panch Mahal, a five-storey palace.

4. Office Buildings in the Fatehpur Complex comprising Aankh Michauli or Khazana (Treasury); Astrologer's Seat; Daftar Khana (Records Office); Karkhana (royal workshop); Taksal (mint).

5. Ancillary Buildings comprising Caravanserai; Darogha's quarters; Hakim's quarters; Hiran Minar; Stables.