Are you thinking about going to Fatehpur Sikri? I will share everything about our experience while visiting this year in this article. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site, so it must be interesting!
What to expect in this article:
About Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a historical city located just 37 kilometers from Agra, in Uttar Pradesh.
It is an ancient city and used to be the capital of the Mughal Empire. Now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! You can visit two sites, one with a mosque and one with a tomb. Below, you will find more information about both.
Did you hear about it before? Before going to India, I was looking at my 500 Best Destinations to Visit from Lonely Planet, and this site was actually mentioned. From that moment on, I saved it, because I knew I would visit the Taj Mahal (Agra), which was an incredible experience. You can read more about that, here.
How to reach Fatehpur Sikri?
Are you wondering how you can reach Fatehpur Sikri?
Well, the most convenient way to get to Fatehpur Sikri is by taxi from Agra.
There are actually many taxis available, or you can ask your hotel to help.
We stayed at Joey’s Hostel in Agra and there was a travel agency right next to it, we asked them for help.
The taxi was there within 5 minutes and it cost around 2000 Rupees (20 euros) up and down. The journey takes around an hour, as it is a 37km ride from Agra.
Next to that, it was scorching hot in March, so we were happy with AC in the taxi.
Hire a tour guide at Fatehpur Sikri
We did not plan it, but we hired a tour guide for a complete experience. When we were standing near the taxi stand, many guides came to us, with different pricing. Eventually, we decided to go with it. To be honest, I don’t think we would have understood anything about the buildings we saw without a guide, as we didn’t know anything about the history of this place, besides what we read on the internet.
He shared interesting stories about the history of Fatehpur Sikri. He also took some hilarious photos of us, he was definitely very creative and having fun himself! That made the experience lighter.
And you know what the best part is? There were barely any tourists around, so we had the place almost to ourselves! I always find that interesting. How can a UNESCO site have so few visitors?
Site 1: The Majestic Buland Darwaza and Jama Masjid
So our first stop was the Buland Darwaza, which is an enormous gateway that is known as a symbol of victory.
It was built in 1575 and this huge entrance to the Jama Masjid is the highest gateway in the world. Pretty cool!
It shows a mix of Persian and Mughal architectural styles. It is supposed to be a symbol of Akbar’s power and religious tolerance. I found the history of him and his 3 favorite wives with different backgrounds (one Hindu, one Muslim and one Christian), quite interesting. If you want to know more about the history of Fatehpur Sikri, I again recommend you hire a tour guide.
I almost forgot to mention that free shuttle buses are going from the taxi stand/ parking place to the first site.
Book a tour with GetYourGuide!
Site 2: The Tomb of Salim Chishti
Next, we visited the Tomb of Salim Chishti. From the first site, it is less than 10 minutes walk.
On this site, you can see different things. There is a white marble structure built in honor of the Sufi saint, Salim Chishti, who lived here in the 16th century.
Next to that, you can also see a graveyard. Lastly, while you walk through the gate, you will see a view of the city, which is not bad.
The tomb attracts many visitors seeking blessings. However, walking over the graves of dead people felt a bit weird. Next to that, a child beggar kept following us around, which made me feel uneasy and less safe. On the second site, you can’t wear your shoes, so you have to leave them behind. The child beggars will ask for money to look after your shoes… Not necessary I feel, but that is just my experience.
Where to stay near Fatehpur Sikri?
For accommodation, we stayed at Joey Hostel in Agra, which I recommend. It’s a cool hostel to relax after a day of exploring. Especially the rooftop, with a view of the Taj Mahal, was my favorite.
You can read more about Joey Hostel in my other article.
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Conclusion of our visit to Fatehpur Sikri
Overall, our visit to Fatehpur Sikri was a mix of nice and uncomfortable moments.
The Buland Darwaza and Jama Masjid were definitely worth the visit, thanks to our funny guide. However, the experience at the Tomb of Salim Chishti was less enjoyable for me. But that is just a personal opinion.
I still believe more people should know about the history of Fatehpur Sikri. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason, right? 🙂
More information about Fatehpur Sikri
Open: From sunrise to sunset
Entrance Fee: Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) – Rs. 50 per head.
Foreigners : Rs 610.00
Indian Nationals : Rs 50.00
Website: Click on this link
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