Fatehpur Sikri was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1571. He chose the site near the village of Sikri because Shaikh Salim Chisti (a Muslim Sufi saint who predicted Akbar would finally have an much needed heir) lived there. The city became an artistic and intellectual center. However, it was abandoned just fourteen years later when Akbar returned to the battle field to consolidate the northwest borders of his empire. Today it is considered a perfect ghost city. The red sandstone buildings are pristine. Designs chiselled into the stone are crisp and look like they were carved yesterday.
The Panch Mahal is a five storied palace, each story smaller than the one below. Here Akbar's queens could savour the cool evening breezes. It is thought that decorative screens once filled the arches.
Recent excavations in the Anup Talao (peerless pool) have revealed an underground chamber at it's center. Contemporary accounts of the construction of Fatehpur Sikri, indicate that Akbar wanted to build a chamber inclosed in water. These accounts also indicate that access to the chamber could be attained without the Emperor becoming wet. Additional excavations are being conducted in order to discover the route into this underground chamber.

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Related Web Sites

• Divine Heritage, Deeg Fatehpur Sikri Mosque
• Visions Computer generated images of Fatehpur Sikri
• Shubh Yatra "An Epic in Red Stone: Fatehpur Sikri"
• Jains in Australia Article: "Did Akbar Build Fatehpur Sikri Over a Temple?"
• Architecture of Fatehpur Sikri
• Vedams Books Book on Fatehpur Sikri
• India Profile Article "Fatehpur Sikri, An Emperor's Tribute"