Fatehpur Sikri

Located 40 kilometers west of Agra, the ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri is considered by many to be the most beautiful ancient structure in India. The UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the pleasure palace of Emperor Akbar from 1571 to 1585. The structure was constructed after a Sufi holy man there prophesied that the emperor would have three sons and his three wives subsequently became pregnant with boys. Akbar moved his wives to Fatehpur Sikri and embarked on a major building program, turning what is believed to have been a small Hindu city into a Mughal capital. At its height, Fatehpur Sikri was purportedly larger than London at the same time. The city’s exquisite red-sandstones palaces, stables, pavilions, courtyards and mosques—including Jama Masjid, one of India’s biggest mosques—were abandoned after Akbar’s death, but their intricate carvings remain. One could easily spend a day exploring the vast grounds and various buildings, but set aside at least a few hours with an historic guide.