Agra Attractions

Fatehpur Sikri

The deserted city Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585. It was built under the personal supervision of the Emperor Akbar; he was childless and, having tried all sorts of solutions to his plight, visited a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, for help. Soon a son was born and, impressed and overjoyed, he started building on the site where he had met the saint. However due to a severe shortage of water the city was abandoned after only fifteen years and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved; a complete medieval fortress of red sandstone, with vast central squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces and formal gardens. Fatehpur Sikri is a 25 mile (40km) journey west of Agra, on the way to Jaipur.

Website: www.indianrail.gov.in; Transport: There are 3 daily trains that connect Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, and vice versa. The first train leaves Agra Fort at 8.10am, the next at 2pm and the last at 7pm. The journey takes an hour.