The Indian city of Fatehpur Sikri was an important stop for traders on routes through northern India and is a testament to the architectural achievements of the Mughal Empire at the end of the XVI century. Fatehpur Sikri became the Indian capital during the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605), who moved his residence here and built a new large palace complex.
Most sources attribute this decision to the emperor’s veneration of the local Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti, and it was in his honor in 1568 that Akbar ordered the construction of the Jami Masjid Mosque, one of the largest mosques of Old Delhi in India, designed for about 10,000 believers. However, the city was eventually abandoned in the 1580s, possibly due to water supply problems, but it continued to be an important point on trade routes, including the Great Silk Road, and was often populated by crowds of merchants from India, Persia and other countries.
Джами-Масджид
The architecture of the city illustrates the diversity of religious and cultural identities that existed there. Thus, Akbar’s red sandstone palace complex, consisting of various residences, as well as religious and official buildings scattered throughout the city, largely reflects Hindu architectural traditions.
In Fatehpur Sikri there are many other evidences of the influence of Indo-Muslim decorative elements, some of which, apparently, are borrowed from sources such as Persian miniature painting. They can be seen, in particular, in the ornate House of the Turkish Sultan.
This building, covered with intricate wood carvings, is also known as the “jewel box”, and each of its stone slabs has a different design, such as arabesques on the columns of the veranda and carvings in the shape of bells, flowers and herring bones on the brackets supporting the roof. The dado panels depict forests and gardens, as well as animal motifs.
The Jami Masjid Mosque, as one would expect, demonstrates a more direct inheritance of the Islamic decorative style, although its main arched entrance, the iwan, repeats Persian architectural models in combination with some Indian decorative elements.
Мечеть Джами-Масджид
Three archways are made of red sandstone and provide access to the corridor and prayer hall on the western side of the mosque. They are located on the north, south and east sides. 35 steps lead to the eastern gate – this is the largest gate in the Jami Masjid, which was used by the royal family itself. The north and south gates are also open to visitors and have 39 and 33 steps to approach them, respectively. The steps have white markings indicating the direction in which prayers are offered.
The two minarets of the mosque are completely identical in appearance. Both minarets are five stories high and reach 130 feet. There are 130 steps inside each minaret.
Buddhist and Jain influences can be traced in a number of other buildings in the city. In this regard, it is interesting to recall the Panch Mahal – the “tower of the wind catcher” – which was also built by order of Akbar.
This structure is located near the Zenana (harem) quarters, which confirms the assumption that it was used for entertainment and recreation. The architecture of this structure uses design elements of a Buddhist temple: it is completely columnar, consisting of four floors decreasing in size. The columns, between which the jaali, lattice screens or an ornamental pattern were originally installed, support the entire structure.
Традиционная джаали
The square-shaped pool with a platform in the center in front of the Panch Mahal is called Anup Talab. Its roof is supported by rectangular simple columns of red stone, and the capitals are decorated with carvings. The frieze is carved in continuous arches, and a rhombus and circles are alternately located in the center. The roof level is the same as in the courtyard – its border is decorated with carved lace of leaves and a balustrade on which stone jaali with octagonal and other complex geometric motifs are installed. Anup Talab is connected to the courtyard by four stone bridges supported by columns.
Since 1986, the ancient city of Fatehpur Sikri has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Despite the fact that it existed for only 15 years, the architecture of the period of Akbar’s reign preserved in it left a significant mark within the framework of culture and history.
The author of the article is Varvara Sergeevna Kartushina
