FATEHPUR SIKRI

The abandoned capital of Akbar

CONTENTS

Introduction
Brief Study into Fatehpur Sikri
A detailed study of the Monuments
 Shaikh Salím Chishtí with Mughal Emperor Akbar

Akbar built the city of Fatehpur Sikri in a barren land, a land known for a lack of water, for
one simple reason. He intended to show his reverence for the Sufi saint Salim Chishti.
Fate of Fatehpur Sikri

1569 1571 1573 1585

Jahangir was born City was founded Buland Darwaza Akbar abandons
and named Sikri was built the city
Jahangir was born and
The city which occupied the After Akbar's successful In order to fight a campaign in
construction of a religious
site before was referred to campaign in Gujarat Buland Punjab he abandons the city
compound began after
as Sikri which was later Darwaza was built in his and then the city is completely
Salim Chisti had predicted
changed to Fatehpur Sikri honor abandoned in 1610 due to
the birth of Akbar's son
failure of water supply
The architecture of Fatehpur Sikri is mainly
based on Mughal and Indian architecture.

The city was built mainly with red sandstone and

has been influenced by Gujarati architecture
such as
the balconies of the minarets in Diwan-I-
Khas,
main features in the tomb of Salim Chisti,
an important feature of Gujarati architecture
that is used in Jama Masjid are underground
tanks .
 Akbar built the grand city, which
proved functional for only fourteen
years from 1571 to 1585,
surrounding the camp of Salim
Chishti.
Salim lived in the desert, so Akbar
built his city in the desert.
When Salim Chishti passed away,
Akbar constructed the center piece
of Fatehpur Sikri, the Tomb of Salim
Chishti.
Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti Fatehpur Sikri
General plan of Fatehpur Sikri city in 1917
 The spatial structure was created
through the use of the principles of
asymmetry, multiple axes,
enclosure, change in level,
transparency, and the element of
surprise.
Plan of Fatehpur Sikri
 To create visual interest horizontal
facades were punctuated by
introducing monumental scale in the
Panch Mahal, the Buland Darwaza,
and the Badshahi Darwaza.

The buildings were also crowned by

small pavilions which create a dramatic
skyline.

The Badshahi Darwaza on the top left, Panch Mahal on

the bottom left, and the Buland Darwaza on the right
 Plan of Fatehpur Sikri

Fatehpur Sikri has no streets but consists of a series of interlocking courtyards set to
the cardinal points.
 The design of individual monuments is
based on symmetry but in the layout of
the complex, the rules of symmetry are
broken and asymmetry is deliberately
employed.

Fatehpur Sikri plan on the left, DIwan-i-khas plan in

the middle and Jama Masjid plan on the right
A detailed study of the Monuments

Diwan-i-aam

Diwan-i-khas

Panch Mahal

Jodha Bai's Palace