GRAND HERITAGE
City of victory
A. SRIVATHSAN
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Built by Akbar in 1571, Fatehpur Sikri remains as it was left in the 16th century.
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FINE EXAMPLE OF MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE: Built to commemorate Akbar's victory in battle.
"Long long ago... " is an oft-repeated beginning of descriptions of places. We wonder, `how long ago was that?' But many a time it is difficult to assign a date to when a place was built. This is not only due to absence of records but because these cities were inhabited continuously for many centuries and built over. They carry many names and traces of the different periods and history, and this does not necessarily start with the availability of written records. However, not all cities are un-datable, there are exceptions.
Alive with history
Fatehpur Sikri is a magnificent city that lies in ruins, but whose life and death is datable. Fatehpur Sikri was a city built by Akbar in 1571 only to be abandoned in 1585. It was built to commemorate Akbar's battle victories and hence named "City of Victory". Legend has it that Akbar was blessed by the sufi saint Salim Chisti with a son and the emperor expressed his gratitude by building a mosque in this place. Later, Akbar abandoned this city and shifted to Lahore to fight the Afghan tribes. Some think it was the water shortage that forced people out.
Shahjahan and Jehangir who succeeded Akbar were based at Agra, which is close by, and never chose to stay at Fatehpur Sikri. The fort wall of Fatehpur Sikri is about nine kilometres long and encompasses some of the best examples of Mughal architecture and craftsmanship. Buland Darwaza, Asia's tallest arched gateway and Salim Chisti's shrine are well known. The palace complex has a Diwan-i-Amm or place of public audience, Diwan-i-Khas or place for private audience, Panch Mahal a five-storied building, Jodh Bhai's palace and a host of other structures.
Tansen and Birbal are part of Akbar's lore. Tour guides still show visitors Birbal's house and platform from where Tansen sang. Records may not verify this, but when legends combine with beauty of architecture, the aura of the place is enhanced.
The city now remains as it was left in the 16th century. A careful restoration of the ruins has made it one of the best historical sites in this country. Fatehpur is a World Heritage site.
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