Tetehpur Sikri, in the south-western corner of the level Indo Gangetic plain, about 37 Kms west of Agra, two rodey out liers of the upper Vindhyan Range Run up towards the north-east, on the hisher of these stands tathpursikri.
Before Akbar's time, the higher ridge was uninhabited; its former glory and present fame are the result of a sun saint's chooice of it as a her amitage. Sikri village however, occupies a site full of interest and promise for archcologial exploration. A stronghold of the Sikrwar Rajputs during the 12 centuery A.D. It was populated by the Turks soon after the conquent of neighbouring Bayana in 1196 a.D. by Muizzud-din Muhammad bin (11921206 A.D.) the first Turkish ruler of Delhi.
Four hundred and fifty years ago, Babar, the first Maghal after defeatiny Rajputana's for midable Ranga Sanga, was passing through the Sikri and Nagar settlements that were earlier taken over from the Sikarwar Rajputs by Turkish Mohammedans returning thanks (Shukri) to god of his fateful victory, Babar renamed Sikri as Shukri. Nothing remains now of the pavilions and gardens that Babar built exceppt an inscribed well corroborat¬ing the statement in his "Memories". Nothing also remains of Nagar chain, a pleasure resort that Akbar erected in 1564 A.D. near Karaoli, not for from Sikri. The new capital that Akbar built here much later, sprewling astride a rocky ridge, presents a picture of unforgettable splendour, and also of desolation.
Formerly it was a small village called Sikri and was the home of stone culturs, Sheikh Salim Chishti, the celebrated Mohammedan saint dwelt here in a cave, He was very much famous for his spiritual deeds, once while returning from a compaign Akbar halted at Sikri,he was then anxious for a heir to the throne, on meeting the saint he fell as his feet and the emperor's desire was fulfilled. According to the suggestion of the saint, he sent his Hindu wife Marian-JI-Zamani to reside at Sikri, within a year a male child was born to the emperor, Akbar's Joy knew no bounds and he named his son Salim after the holy saint. considering the place to be fortunte to himself, he made it his capital and called it as fatepur, the town of victory, after the conquest of Gujrat. (On 30th August, 1569 A.D. the long-awaited son was born. He was named Muhammad Salim after the Shaikhs he ascended the throne as emperor Jahangir. His mother was given the title of Maryamu "Z-Zamani (the Mary of the age) Akbar's own mother was already entitled Maryam makani (dwelling) (on an equal level) with Mary.
No contemporary authority indentifies the child's mother: nor does Jahangir himself in his vduminous memories, through it is unlikely that she was the daughter of Raja Bhar Mal of Amber.
In 1569 A.D. Akbar founded this city and then began to rise great battlerbented walls. The magnificent palaces and courtyards. Thegreat mosque and other superb specimens in red stand which stand to this day a source of wonder and admiration to visitors. After Akbars death Fatehpur Sikri was soon deserted within 50 years of its foundation mainly due to lack of water(Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned the 14 years after its creation. A shortage of wests is belived to bethe reason).
The deserted captial is 950 Kms in circumferance, three sides being enclosed by high battled walls pierced with seven massive gate ways. The fourth side is open and is being protected by an artificacial lake. The de¬serted capital is enclossed by 50 feet high bathe walls built of stones on three sides. Fatbhpur Sikri is built in red sand stone, and is a beautiful blend of Hindu and is bemic architectural elements.The sand stone is richly orna¬mented with carving and fretwork.
Emperor Akbar lived in his new capital fatehpur Sikri for only sixteen• years. Troubles in thenorth-west compelled him to shift to Lahore, and then he returned to Agra instead of Sikri. The shortage of water at Sikri undoubt¬edly contributed to its desertion. With in a faw years, the palaces, mosques and mansious of the nobles were deserted.
Today it is a ghost city, its architecture is in a perfect state of preservation, and wandering through the palaces it is easy to imagine that this was once a Royal residence and a dynamic cultures centre.
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