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- Destinations
- Asia
- India
- Agra
- Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri
The deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of the
Mughal Empire between 1570 and 1585. It was built under the
personal supervision of the Emperor Akbar. The story goes that the
emperor was childless and, having tried all sorts of solutions to
his plight, visited a Sufi saint, Sheikh Salim Chishti, for help.
Soon a son was born, and - impressed and overjoyed - Akbar started
building on the site where he had met the saint. However, due to a
severe shortage of water the city was abandoned after only fifteen
years, and the capital was relocated back to Agra. As a result
Fatehpur Sikri stands untouched and perfectly preserved: a complete
medieval fortress built of red sandstone, with vast central
squares, exquisitely carved multi-tiered pavilions, cool terraces
and formal gardens. Fatehpur Sikri is a 25-mile (40km) journey west
of Agra, on the way to Jaipur.
Information & Facts
Language
Although English is generally used for official and
business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by
about 40 percent of the population. Urdu is the language common
with the Muslim demographic. India has a total of 22 official
languages
Money
The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR), which is divided into
100 paise (singular paisa). Major currencies can be changed at
banks, and authorised bureaux de changes. It is impossible to
obtain rupees outside India, but no matter what time you arrive in
India there will be an exchange office open at the airport. It is
illegal to exchange money through the black market and it is
advisable to refuse torn notes, as no one will accept them apart
from the National Bank. It is best to change money into small
denominations. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are widely
accepted, particularly in tourist orientated establishments. ATMs
are not generally available.