Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri has seen great grandeur under the legendary rule of Emperor Akbar as the 16th-century capital of the Mughal Empire. Today, it is a lesser-known jewel of Agra and attracts visitors as a historic fortified city. It is studded with trophies of war and imperial glory. Soon after Akbar conquered Gujarat, Fatehpur Sikri earned the epithet “City of Victory” as a tribute to the emperor’s laurels. The countless buildings all across embody them. On top of everything, it is a site where Hindu and Islamic architecture thrives.

Red sandstone is predominant in the town. And, the iconic white marble appears less frequently than anywhere in the rest of the Golden Circle. For the most well-visited and cherished building, head to Jama Masjid. Here, the colossal gate, Buland Darwaza, astonishes before you even set foot in the mosque. It all resembles an immense fiery site under the sun. Intricately carved archways, Persian-style chambers, and the monumental Stone Cutters mosque signify the backbone of the time’s values.

Once you step outside, you will stumble across numerous palaces, pavilions, towers, and mystifying chambers. They sprawl magnificently across the royal complex of Fatehpur Sikri. It is where the legacy of the Mughal Empire is embalmed. The buildings sing in uniform harmony with their elegant and imposing style. It is a characteristic much preserved unlike anywhere else.