The imperial
city
of the Mughal dynasty between 1571 and 1584, Fatehpur Sikri was built by
Mughal Emperor Akbar. The architectural grandeur of this deserted city
cannot be described in words and one can only experience the aura of its
magnificent edifices by seeing them. Fatehpur Sikri is the most popular
day excursion from Agra, the city of Taj and capital of invincible
Mughals for a long time.
Today, as one enters Sikri from the Agra Gate, one of the nine gateways
on the way to the palace complex, Diwan-I-Aam, or the hall of public
audience appears first. It is a huge rectangular walled-in courtyard
where petitions were heard, proclamations made, embassies received and
entertainment programmes held. The royal balcony, set within a frame of
jali screens, appears on the western front. In front of the royal seat,
a stone hook is still found embedded in the ground. As per tradition,
Akbar's pet elephant Hiran was tied to this hook to crush to death under
its feet the head of the guilty. If it refused to obey thrice, the
victim was freed.
Jodha Bai's palace belonged to Harkha, the Amber princess and mother of
Jahangir, and the other Rajput wives and their companions. No wife of
Akbar was called Jodha Bai. One of Jahangir's wives was so called. This
is a high-walled edifice, guarded by a grand gateway leading to a
spectacular courtyard. With double storied pavilions at the center of
colonnades on all four sides, this place has some striking Hindu
architectural features like ornamental columns, bells and chain motifs,
heavy brackets and niches on the wall for the deities worshipped by
Rajput ladies. The other smaller but beautiful palace belonged to
Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begun, widow of Humayun. She was the most
respected lady of the harem with the title Mariam-Makani. This palace is
also called Sunehra Makan (golden house) because of the golden paint on
the faded murals.
Buland Darwaza, the colossal triumphal arch, was built in 1575 on the
southern wall of the courtyard. It celebrates Akbar's conquest of
Gujarat. The towering portal has the height of 176 feet from ground
level and 134 feet over the top step. A Quran inscription inside its
archway says, "the world is a bridge, pass over, but don't build a house
over it. he who hopes for an hour may hope for eternity".
The most recommended sites to visit around Fatehpur Sikri are the Agra's
Taj Mahal and the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. touristplacesinindia can
arrange excursion trips to these destinations from Fatehpur Sikri
city
of the Mughal dynasty between 1571 and 1584, Fatehpur Sikri was built by
Mughal Emperor Akbar. The architectural grandeur of this deserted city
cannot be described in words and one can only experience the aura of its
magnificent edifices by seeing them. Fatehpur Sikri is the most popular
day excursion from Agra, the city of Taj and capital of invincible
Mughals for a long time. 
Jodha Bai's palace belonged to Harkha, the Amber princess and mother of
Jahangir, and the other Rajput wives and their companions. No wife of
Akbar was called Jodha Bai. One of Jahangir's wives was so called. This
is a high-walled edifice, guarded by a grand gateway leading to a
spectacular courtyard. With double storied pavilions at the center of
colonnades on all four sides, this place has some striking Hindu
architectural features like ornamental columns, bells and chain motifs,
heavy brackets and niches on the wall for the deities worshipped by
Rajput ladies. The other smaller but beautiful palace belonged to
Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begun, widow of Humayun. She was the most
respected lady of the harem with the title Mariam-Makani. This palace is
also called Sunehra Makan (golden house) because of the golden paint on
the faded murals.