Fatehpur Sikri Favorites

Favorite thing: The Imperial Harem at Fatehpur, home to the women of the house, consists of several buildings. The focal point of the section would have to be the Panch Mahal, which also happens to be Fatehpur Sikri's tallest buildings. Consisting of five stories, each smaller than the one below, the entire structure is surrounded by columns with gorgeous inlaid flowers and other patterns.

Being the tallest structure within the palace grounds, the Panch Mahal affords excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Favorite thing: Just adjacent to the treasury building and not far from the Diwan-i-Khas is the "astrologer's chair". Akbar was - as were many royals of the time - very concerned with matters of the stars and the fate. The astrologer's job was to keep the emperor informed of planetary and stellar alignment so that Akbar the Great could be at his greatest.

And besides, he had a pretty nice harem. I wonder if he ever used the opening line "hi baby, what's your sign?"

Favorite thing: If you look very closely in Diwan-i-Am's (the hall of public audiences) grass courtyard (see the accompanying photo), you'll see a small round stone. This was reportedly the place where Akbar kept an elephant tied up, as every emperor needs an elephant or two around the ol' palace.

Besides transportation and heavy lifting duties, Akbar's elephants were also assigned responsibility for criminal deterence. Our guide told us that one favored method of administering capital punishment in Akbar's time was to lay the condemned man's head onto the stone in the picture, at which point the elephant would step on him. Gotta give it a plus for its effectiveness, dependability and brevity. The cons (accidental humor... "cons" he he he) would include a very messy clean-up and perhaps psychological trauma for the elephant.

On the elephant's day off, executions at Diwan-i-Am were accomplished via hangings or another big favorite from wayyyyyy back in medieval Europe - impaling. Akbar believed in diversity in crime and punishment, too.

Favorite thing: Just inside the Fatehpur Sikri walls is the massive Diwan-i-Am, or "hall of public audiences". Actually, "hall" is a bit of misnomer, as it's more of an open-air courtyard where the public could greet and bask in Akbar's royal glory. The giant grass courtyard is something like 120 meters by 80 meters in size, and it played host to all sorts of events - including celebrations, speechs and all sorts of executions. (please see my 'Akbar's elephant rock and capital punishment' tip)

At the far end (away from the gate) of the courtyard, there was a large balcony, upon which Akbar would sit - on a throne of course - during these audiences. And like I say, this was the public side of Akbar and Fatehpur Sikri. Anyone who was more important or connected would be invited to a more private audience at the Diwan-i-Khas, or hall of private audiences.

Favorite thing: This structure pictured here is the Diwan-i-Khas, or the emperor's hall of private audiences. This is where Akbar would receive his most important visitors. He'd sit on a giant throne right in the middle of the room, to symbolize himself as being the center of the universe. And in keeping with the symbolic personal grandeur and majesty, Akbar's was positioned such that Akbar was higher than anyone else in the audience. (See my 'Akbar and the ladies look down on the world' tip)

Modesty wasn't one of Akbar's stronger attributes. :)

Favorite thing: Within the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences), we were shown an intricately carved series of elevated walkways. Apparently, these were intended as a place that court ladies and other courtisans could walk "above the masses" looking down and safely out of reach. At the very center of these walkways is a massive structure that seated a throne for Akbar, so that HE could look down upon his private audience guests as well.

Isn't the workmanship on the walkways incredible? I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to create these "above ground" pathways.

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Favorite thing: Elephants have long been a symbol of royalty and power in India. Even today, elephants are revered by their owners to the highest degree. A man who owns an elephant is truly considered wealthy in many ways.

The same was true in Akbar's time... elephants were a valued and essential part of life in Mughal India, and were literally the moving power behind Akbar's empire. So, it's not a bit surprising to find pachyderms pictured on the walls within the Fatehpur Sikri complex.

(These photos were taken on the exterior walls of a structure called the Palace of Maryam, which was home to EITHER Akbar's Christian wife - Akbar believed in religious diversity in his nuptial choices - or perhaps his mother.)

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Favorite thing: I was under the impression that nobody had lived in Fatehpur Sikri since it was abandoned by the court of Akbar in approximately 1585. But, our guide Rajiv told us that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of residents in the complex. He was talking about the Fatehpur Sikri bat colonies. He then pointed out a couple of darkened rooms, just a few meters away from Akbar's pedestal bed (see separate tip/photo). Through the magic of an autofocus lens and a synch flash, we reveal their profile here on VT.