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Fatehpur Sikri, 40 km from Agra, is a vast complex of well preserved halls, palaces, tombs, courtyards, and mosques. This is the graceful Panch Mahal at Fatehpur Sikri -- a five-tiered residence of the Akbar's royal household and harem.
Akbar took the Mughal throne after the death of this father, Humayan, in 1556, and built the Red Fort at Agra, which we have just visited. Being without an heir to the throne, Akbar visited Sikri for the blessings of a Sufi saint, Salim Christi, who told him he would have 3 sons. When the saint's prophesy proved fruitful, Akbar celebrated by building this new capital city, Fatehpur Sikri, renown for its remarkably elaborate carved sandstone structures, still in an excellent state of preservation.
Fatehpur Sikri took 16 years to build, was occupied for 14 or 15 years, and
then abandoned whether for a lack of water or strategic reasons, after which
Akbar relocated the capital to Lahore.
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