Fatehpur Sikri Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, India

Fatehpur Sikri Fort is a vast 16th-century Mughal palace complex built by Emperor Akbar during his reign. 1249

Fatehpur Sikri Fort: Buland Gate, Dadupura, Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh 283110, India
Date Picture Taken: Feb, 2026

Fatehpur Sikri is a historic Mughal city built by Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century, about 40 kilometers west of Agra. Akbar made it his imperial capital around 1571, and for a brief period it became an important political and cultural center of the Mughal Empire.

What is sometimes called Fatehpur Sikri Fort is actually the fortified royal palace complex within the city. Built mainly of red sandstone, it contains palaces, courtyards, audience halls, and administrative buildings used by Akbar and his court. Important structures include the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, and Jodha Bai’s Palace.

Nearby is the religious complex centered around the Jama Masjid and the tomb of the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti. Akbar eventually moved his capital away from Fatehpur Sikri, but much of the city survived and today provides a remarkable glimpse into Mughal architecture and royal life during his reign.

Diwan-E-Aam - Raised sandstone pavilion where Mughal emperor Akbar had audiences & heard petitions from commoners.

Astrologers’ Seat

The Astrologers’ Seat is a small, beautifully carved pavilion in the royal complex of Fatehpur Sikri, near the Pachisi Court. Despite its modern name, there is no firm evidence that it was actually used by astrologers.

Ankh Micholi (Treasury)

Ankh Micholi, sometimes called the Treasury, is a building within the royal palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri. Its name means something like “blind man’s buff” or “hide-and-seek,” a name that was given to it later because of the building’s maze-like arrangement of rooms and passages.

Courtyard of Daulat Khana

A view of the Astrologers’ Seat from the courtyard

A view of the entrance

Tansen Chabutra (Ornamental Pool)

The Tansen Chabutra is an ornamental platform and pool within the royal palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri.

The structure consists of a small raised platform surrounded by an ornamental pool, creating an attractive setting that may have been used for relaxation or entertainment.

Water features were an important part of Mughal palace architecture, providing both beauty and cooling in the hot climate. The pool and surrounding architecture also demonstrate Akbar’s interest in creating spaces for music, poetry, discussion, and other cultural activities within his imperial court.

A doorway in the building on the left leads into another inner courtyard of the palace complex.

To the inner courtyard

Across the courtyard is an ornate gateway leading into another inner courtyard of the royal palace complex.

This ornate gateway leads into the large inner courtyard of Jodha Bai’s Palace.

Jodha Bai’s Palace

Jodha Bai’s Palace is one of the largest and most impressive residential buildings in the royal complex at Fatehpur Sikri. It was built during the reign of Emperor Akbar and consists of a large rectangular inner courtyard surrounded by rooms and pavilions that formed part of the imperial residential quarters.

The large enclosed courtyard and surrounding apartments give a good impression of the private residential side of Mughal court life, in contrast to the public audience halls and ceremonial spaces elsewhere at Fatehpur Sikri.

We left the inner courtyards and returned to the main courtyard where we had started.