Shikri Fatehpur, 35km away from Agra, was a capital city of Mughal Kingdom built by its greatest emperor, Akbar within 1571 to 1586. The name Shikri which means "Thanks" was given by Akbar's grandfather, the founder of Mughal Dynasty, to mark a victory battle occurred here. The town was originally a little village of stone cutters when Akbar came here in 1568 to look for a Muslim astrologer Saint Shaikh Salim Chisti for a birth of a heir, as he had no child despite marrying the Amber Princess Jodhabai and with 300 concubines . His will came true the next year when Jodhabai born him a baby boy. His prince Salim was named after the astrologer. Two years later Akbar decided to move his capital into Shikri and named it as Fatehpur which means City of Victory. It took 15 years to complete the construction of the city and made it as his home and operations base. In the year 1586 he moved out of the city to wage the war against Kabul, leaving his new capital totally abandoned.
Apart from the marble white mausoleum of Salim Chisti, the entire city was built from red sand stones. The Mughal Empire had long varnished from firmament but its great emperor Akbar etched his name forever in the sands of time by building Shikri Fatehpur.
There are thousands of Muslims came here to do their prayer every year during Idil Fitri festive and candles were lighted up along the roof under the small dome top.
Shikri Fatehpur is the largest mosque of its kind in India with a huge inner courtyard of dimension 168 x 144 meter.
Shikri Fatehpur covered too large area and many structures had been ruined or varnished. Places became decentralized for tourists to visit in a day or two.
The little door at Salim Chisti's Mausoleum was specially built for women to use in entering into the hall as they were not allowed to go in from main entrance. The marble carving pillar at Salim Chisti's Mausoleum. The beautiful corridors at four directions gateway.
Each shape of the window screen at Salim Chisti's Mausoleum had its meaning representing different saints like king solomen.
The sophisticated window screen and the natural colored marble floor at Salim Chisti's Mausoleum. People tie little cords or murmur wishes to screen especially parents without children, expecting the will would come true like Emperor Akbar four century ago.
The 45 meter high sublime gateway, Buland Darwaza.
The bee hives are found inside most of the domes.
It was said that to touch the horse shoes hanging at the brass door of Buland Darwaza can bring one fortune and luck.
Pavement hucksters spread all their goods on the floor, including handcrafts, souvenir and local fruits at the open space in front of 45 meter high Buland Darwaza gateway.
Dome like structure was the washing place for Muslims to clean themselves before entering through sublime gateway to do their prayer. A clear picture of fortification city wall at far end of the city from Buland Darwaza gateway.
There are 4 different entrances and the center front door where I stood was the one for the emperor only.
Many local females in bright striking saree were among the large number of visitors. While some were resting at the stair-steps, there was a group who were curious to watch the water piping system at the center of the courtyard.
All transportation were maximum the usage and heavily overloaded including animal carriage cart and cargo vehicle.
Rows of small stores along the pathway towards Shikri Fatehpur.
Some ruins and remaining along the streets.
Ragged living quarters outside Shikri fatehpur which according to our local guide were crime den controlled by black power and there were red light spot along the road, where teenage girls aged below 13-14 years provide sex services for long distance truck drivers. High rising percentage in Aids is now a great problem to the local government.
Huge area of red bricks kiln and chapati field were common along the road side.
Unknown ancient mosque and the female construction worker. Women are the most important source of labor power in most Asian countries.
Our first meal at Agra. Northern Indian cuisine includes a lot of potatoes, vegetables, beans and spices in the dishes. The chapati tortilla and Basmati rice with their special dhall were good to eat.
The striking Indian colored little violet flowers and a kind of its local wild fruits, appear and taste like raw dates.
Three wheels yellow- green toto is a very common transportation in Agra. Seat of 6 always squeezed up to 16-20 passengers at a cost of 10 rupiah one km. Wedding party entertainment teams were always traversed by truck.
Most of the new building along the road imitated the style of Taj Mahal.
The beautiful old structures of Agra at dusk.
