Fatehpur Sikri

Black and White pictures by QT Luong

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Built during the second half of the 16th century by Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors, Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only some 10 years. The layout of the complex of monuments and temples, all in a uniform architectural style based on red sandstone, shows a conscious attempt to produce rich spatial effects by the organization of built forms around open spaces in interesting ways. The Dargah (Jama Masjid) mosque houses the tomb of Sufi saint Salim Chishti. The legend states that as Akbar was not getting any offspring, he prayed through Salim Chisti, who blessed him, after which three sons were born to him. Today the Salim Chishti tomb is still visited by childless women. The Buland Darwaza (Victory Gate) of the Dargah mosque, built to commemorate Akbar's victory in Gujarat, is, at 54 meter, the tallest of its kind in Asia. Fatehpur Sikri is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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