Fatehpur Sikri: We woke up early, checked out of Jai Mahal and headed to our next destination, Agra. Along the way we made a stop at Fatehpur Sikri. After inheriting the Mughal Empire from his father, Humayun, Akbar rebuilt the Agra Fort and established it as his capital. With his third wife, Mariam uz-Zamani, Akbar had a son and then twins. However, the twins died. Distressed, Akbar consulted a Sufi Saint, Salim Chishti, in Sikri who predicted the birth of another son and heir. A son was born in 1569, again to his third wife, in Sikri and would later become ruler of the Mughal Empire. Akbar then decided to build a palace in Sikri and move the capital. He did so in 1571. However, in 1585 he moved the capital away from Fatehpur Sikri, which quickly became a ghost town.
Diwan-i-Am: Immediately inside the outer gate is Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) where the king addressed the general public, heard petitions and dispensed justice. He also used this great courtyard to review the animals of the royal stables. There was no access to the pavilion where the mujahara sat from this courtyard.
The entire palace complex was built primarily with red sandstone and heavily influenced by Hindu architecture, unlike other Mughal palaces, which were also influenced by Muslim and Persian architecture.
Mardana: Through a gate and behind the mujahara's pavilion is a large courtyard containing several buildings. This area of the palace is known as the Mardana (Men's Area). The first building through the gate is Diwan-i-Kas (Hall of Private Audience) where the king met his ministers and other special guests. The hall has a large column in the middle, atop of which the king sat during these meetings. The design of this building is very unique in Mughal architecture.
In the middle of the courtyard is the Pachisi court, a large version of the board used to play the modern-day game of Ludo, using live game pieces. Also in the courtyard is Anup Talao, an artificial pond with four bridges leading to a single central stage, used for entertainment purposes. On one wall of the courtyard, opposite the Diwan-i-Am, stands the Panch Mahal (5 Story Palace), where one could catch a cool breeze and get a panoramic view of the town below.
Along the wall furthest from the gate is the residence of the king, including his working, bathing, and sleeping areas. Also included in the courtyard is the house of Akbar's favorite minister, Raja Birbal, and the Hujra-i-Anup Talao, which may have been the house of his Muslim wife, although this is disputed due to its small size.
Zenana: Just as the Mardana was constructed for the men, the Zenana was constructed for the women of the palace. This area can be reached by walking through a gate located on the same wall as the Panch Mahal. The first building encountered is Sunahra Maken, said to be the home of Akbar's Christian wife. While it was made of red sandstone like the other buildings, it is still possible to make out many of the murals painted on the walls inside the house. Beyond Sunahra Maken is a gate leading into Jodha Bai Palace. This is said to have been used by Akbar's Hindu wife. It is a large, square courtyard with a two-story high living area centered in each wall.
Jama Masjid: Located next to the palace is the Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque). We walked over from the palace and entered through the royal gate. This is the gate that the royal family would have used when visiting the mosque. Included in the mosque complex is the Zenana Rauza (Royal Ladies' Tombs) and the Tomb of Salim Chishti. The white marble used to construct the saint's tomb makes it stand out against the red sandstone architecture surrounding it. It is believed that by tying a string through the marble lattice screens of the building your wish will be granted.
The mosque is also famous for the grandeur of its main gate, Buland Darwaza (Great Gate). This gate was added to the mosque complex to commemorate Akbar's conquest of Gujarat in 1573, marking the Mughal domination of all of northern India. Since we entered through the royal gate, we exited the complex to get a view of the exterior of the Buland Darwaza and of the city below.
The Gateway Hotel: Upon completing our tour, we continued our voyage to Agra, eventually arriving at our hotel. We checked in and were shown to our room. We looked out our window and, standing high above the rooftops of the city's buildings was the Taj Mahal.
We ate dinner at the hotel, it being included with our room. Following dinner, we headed outside and sat down to watch a short puppet show being performed poolside.