Fatehpur Sikri

Akbar founded Fatehpur Sikri as his imperial capital in 1571 after the Sufi saint Salim Chishti foretold the birth of his heir.

The red sandstone city blends Persian, Hindu and Jain design, and contains the towering Buland Darwaza, built to mark the Gujarat conquest.

Abandoned within 15 years — largely due to water scarcity — it remains one of the best preserved Mughal cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.