Friday 25 November 2011

Magazine Feature : Fatehpur Sikri


While I was enjoying exclusive luxury, complete relaxation and a splendid time-out at the sunshine beaches of  Indonesia my article got published on  Prismma, India's finest Design and Lifestyle Magazine. Check out the article here.

Here,  a glimpse of the article :


Fatehpur Sikri:
The Mughal Sandstone Splendour


Far from the din and bustle of India's capital, New Delhi, yet close at hand in between the Delhi-Agra route, lies Fatehpur Sikri, a city that was once India's Capital for a brief period, but now bears a desolate and haunted look, yet testifies the architectural genius of the Mughal dynasty, which went on to produce more wonders like the Taj Mahal many years later.

The imperial city of the Mughal dynasty Fatehpur Sikri (The City of Victory) was built by the greatest Mughal Emperor Akbar at the beginning of 1570's. It was built in honour of the Sufi Saint Shaikh Salim Chisti, who lived in a cavern on the ridge at Sikri village about 40 kilometres from Agra and foretold the birth of the emperor's son (the future Jahangir), who was named Prince Salim after the Saint.

















The Masterpiece of Mughal Architecture








Akbar experimented both with architecture and art and built this city expressing his ideals and vision. Sikri was the first planned city of the Mughals, and leaves proof of innovative town planning through its efficient drainage and water-supply system. The architecture of Fatehpur Sikri has a definite all-India character and embodies the noble ideals and the tolerant bent of Akbar's mind. 















Khawabagh-Akbar's private bedrooms


The city monuments exude the prolific and versatile Indo-Muslim composite style. These red sandstone monuments are one of the finest masterpieces of Mughal Architecture and is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site.















The fascinating haunted city

Jama Masjid (Jami Masjid) or The Friday Mosque:






Jama Masjid

Buland Darwaza :














The Red Stone Splendour

The Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chishti :


















The white marble serpentine brackets at the Dargah










Jami Masjid, The Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chishti and the vast courtyard

Diwan-i-Khas:
























Natural light coming through the Jaali work window....Diwan-I-Khas








Anup Talao:
















 Anup Talao, Diwan-I-Khas and Panch Mahal



Panch Mahal:

















Panch Mahal pavilion




The Astrologer's Seat:













Palace of Jodha Bai :








Infront of Jodha Bai Palace




Inside Jodha Bai's Palace


Birbal's Palace :











Fatehpur Sikri was Akbar's capital for only around fifteen years. Within fifteen years of the city's foundation, the lake that was the natural source of water for this city, fell short of providing water to the growing population in this region. Besides, there were constant disturbances from the North Western frontier. All these made Akbar abandon Fatehpur Sikri and he chose Lahore as his new capital to fight against the Afghan tribes. This city since then has been bearing a desolate look as if waiting for its inhabitants to return some day. 












Text and Photographs by Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee.
















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20 comments:

Shanthi said...

Sanghamitra that was a beautiful post on Fatehpur Sikri. I lived 18 kms away from this fort in Bharatpur the last 2 years before we left to Norway. I used to visit here once or twice a month and enjoyed shopping in those narrow streets behind the fort walls. Many a times we would drive here on moonlit nights, climb up the Panch Mahal and enjoy dinners with friends while soaking in the beauty of all those red stand stone buildings bathed in the moonlight. Thanks to DH because of whom this was possible. Thanks Sanghamitra, you brought back many many memories of those happy days. Have a fun trip to India

Rama Ananth said...

Many years ago when we lived in Agra, we used to visit FS very often. Those days we used to travel by Goda Gadi, and it used to be so much fun.
Thanks for posting it. The pictures are beautiful.

Peeters Liliane said...

Thank you for your visit.
Beautiful blog love your pictures.
Greetings from Belgium,
Liliane

Anonymous said...

Sanghamitra,
Amazing photographs,thank you for sharing them. Enjoy your blog very much. Pat

... said...

Hello!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Congratulations on having your article published in Prismma! I enjoyed your tour of Fatehpur Sikri. Incredibly beautiful architecture! So sad that it had to be abandoned. I also enjoyed your beautiful photos of your Diwali decorations! Love all the colors!

Namaste

~ Mary

bj said...

What lovely buildings and your photos are amazing.
Congratulations on having your article published.
When my daddy was a young man, he was in the army and got very sick. He spent 2 yrs in a hospital somewhere in India.
Thanks for coming by my place...come again soon. :)

Emreen said...

Truly a marvelous piece of architecture... !!! Beautiful photos....

Barbara F. said...

Thanks so much for stopping by, I enjoyed reading your post. Lovely photos. Will stop by again. xo

Cindy Adkins said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. Congratulations on the magazine article! Your blog is fascinating. I love learning about places I've never been. I'm your newest follower.
Cindy

Karen said...

Congrats on being published! Those are beautiful pictures, I feel like I've visited these places without leaving my home. Thanks for sharing these.

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Spectacular photos. The architecture is stunning, and you captured it beautifully.

Patsy said...

your photography is beautiful...the colors and architecture are stunning! I am now a follower of your blog. I hope you will drop in the visit mine again, and I would love for you to follow me!
Patsy

Sonia said...

Oh such beautiful pictures and architecture!! Someday i want to visit India! Thanks for sharing!
Miss Bloomers

Anonymous said...

What beautiful architecture on these buildings! You always have the prettiest photos.
Thank you so much for coming by to see me.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Calypso In The Country said...

Those photos and that architecture are just stunning! That is a part of the world I have never visited. Thanks for stopping by my blog with your lovely comment. I look forward to reading more of your blog!
-Shelley

Kathleen said...

Congratulations on being published! Beautiful pictures.
Thanks for visiting me!

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Congrats on being published! Your photos are beautiful, and I enjoyed the armchair travel very much!

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Your photos are stunning. Thanks so much for providing me with a beautiful look into a country I know nothing about. I'll hope you'll share many more in the future.

Terry said...

Spectacular. Thanks for the introduction to Fatehpur Sikri.

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

Thanks Ladies! Have a great week ahead....

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