For the past few years I have got into the routine of falling asleep listening to podcasts. The podcast topics are usually restricted to either photography or the art and history of India, and often this ritual is so effective that it can take me over a week […]
The Jami Masjid mosque was one of the first projects undertaken at Akbar’s new city of Fatehpur Sikri, and was built in honour of the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim al-Din Chishti (1479-1572), who famously predicted the birth of Akbar’s first and much longed for son. Completed in 1572 […]
Today most visitors to Fatehpur Sikri take advantage of the frequent shuttle bus, which runs continuously throughout the day ferrying passengers between the palace entrance and car park which lies about a kilometer away. It’s an excellent system, and ensures energy levels are conserved as much as possible, […]
The vast majority of visitors to Fatehpur Sikri are only able to see the palace complex and perhaps the Jami Masjid. To see the whole of Fatehpur Sikri would take far longer than a single day, but on my visit I was able to explore a little beyond […]
More myths surround the extraordinary city of Fatehpur Sikri than any other Mughal capital. Built by Emperor Akbar in the early 1570s, just fifteen years later in 1585 it was deserted by him, for reasons that may never be entirely clear. The site was originally known as just […]
Deeg is located 38 km west of Mathura and 40 km north-west of Bharatpur in Rajasthan. The fortress and pleasure palaces of Deeg are of major architectural importance, and combined with some wonderful gardens makes for a great day trip out of Agra. Deeg can lay claim to […]
Planned by a Muslim king and built by Hindu masons, the imposing Agra Fort is the most visible testimony of Akbar’s rule. This citadel is a statement of empire, and perfectly illustrates the young emperor’s vision and creativity, which ultimately unified the diverse geographical and racial entities within […]
Kusum Sarovar (also known as Sumana Sarovar) is located on the holy Govardhan Hill, around 25 km from both Mathura and Vrindavan, and 150 km from Delhi in Uttar Pradesh. It was a spontaneous decision to visit this location having spent a few hours at Deeg Palace just […]
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