Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar’s greatest architectural achievement was the construction of Fatehpur Sikri, his Capital City near Agra. The construction pf the walled city was started in 1569 A.D. and completed in 1574 A.D. contained some of the most beautiful buildings – both religious and secular which testify to the Emperor’s aim of achieving social, political and religious integration. The religious edifices worth mentioning are the Jami Masjid and Salim Chisti’s Tomb. The tomb built in 1571 A.D. in the corner of the mosque compound is a square marble chamber with a verandah. The cenotaph has an exquisitely designed lattice screen around it.
Jami Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Fatehpur Sikri
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
The secular ones include Jodh Bai’s palace, the Panch Mahal, the Diwan-i-khas and the Buland Darwaza. Jodha Bai's palace is a large building consisting of rooms on all four sides of a courtyard. The centre part and four corners of the building are doubled storeyed. A small chapel attached has niches in the wakks for idols. The panch Mahal is a five stored structure, each storey smaller in size as they go up, the last one being only a kiosk.
Panch Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was meant for the Emperor to sit in audience with his ministers and listen to disputes and discussions. A novel structure, it is a large hall with a giant monolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed platform on top like a cup which is supported by a circular array of beautifully carved brackets. From the Central platform branch out four diagonal railed galleries symbolizing Akbar’s supremacy over his dominions. The gallery is continued on all four sides of the hall. The audience sat in the galleries and in the hall below giving it the effect of a two-storey building. Sitting in the centre, Akbar heard discourses and discussions on religions.
Akbar’s greatest architectural achievement was the construction of Fatehpur Sikri, his Capital City near Agra. The construction pf the walled city was started in 1569 A.D. and completed in 1574 A.D. contained some of the most beautiful buildings – both religious and secular which testify to the Emperor’s aim of achieving social, political and religious integration. The religious edifices worth mentioning are the Jami Masjid and Salim Chisti’s Tomb. The tomb built in 1571 A.D. in the corner of the mosque compound is a square marble chamber with a verandah. The cenotaph has an exquisitely designed lattice screen around it.
Jami Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Fatehpur Sikri
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
The secular ones include Jodh Bai’s palace, the Panch Mahal, the Diwan-i-khas and the Buland Darwaza. Jodha Bai's palace is a large building consisting of rooms on all four sides of a courtyard. The centre part and four corners of the building are doubled storeyed. A small chapel attached has niches in the wakks for idols. The panch Mahal is a five stored structure, each storey smaller in size as they go up, the last one being only a kiosk.
Panch Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was meant for the Emperor to sit in audience with his ministers and listen to disputes and discussions. A novel structure, it is a large hall with a giant monolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed platform on top like a cup which is supported by a circular array of beautifully carved brackets. From the Central platform branch out four diagonal railed galleries symbolizing Akbar’s supremacy over his dominions. The gallery is continued on all four sides of the hall. The audience sat in the galleries and in the hall below giving it the effect of a two-storey building. Sitting in the centre, Akbar heard discourses and discussions on religions.
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