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The City of Prophecy, Fatehpur Sikri

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The remains of Fatehpur Sikri, a former capital built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century,

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can be found in a rural part of northern India.

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This square was used by visiting merchants to rest their horses and elephants.

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Numerous carved stone decorations resembling elephant tusks jut out from the tower wall here.

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The tusks symbolize the power of the Emperor, who possessed armies of elephants.

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Emperor Akbar had many concubines, but none produced an heir.

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The Emperor was most concerned and visited a Muslim saint who told him that he would have a son.

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Akbar was blessed with a male child as predicted the following year.

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The Emperor was delighted and decided to build a new capital here.

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This is the mausoleum of Sheikh Salim Kisti, the saint who predicted the birth of the Prince.

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It became a holy place and was visited by women from all over India wishing to have children.

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All the buildings in the palace area are made of red sandstone.

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This is the audience hall where ministers saw the Emperor.

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The Emperor used to walk up through corridors to reach the throne placed on top of the pillar.

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He looked down on the people he gave audience to.

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The Muslim Emperor sought reconciliation with Indian tradition.

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The buildings in the palace area show such integration.

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Panch Mahal is a five-story pavilion without any walls.

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Composed only with pillars and beams, this seemingly wooden building is actually made entirely with red sandstone.

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There are no Islamic arches or domes.

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The Emperor selected traditional Indian designs instead.

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This is the palace for the Emperor's wives.

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He deliberately sought marriage with Hindu and pagan brides to strengthen his empire.

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Regional governors under his control willingly sent their daughters to the palace.

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The number of women here was said to be 5,000 at one point.

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Under Akbar's rule, Islam and Hindu culture coexisted in harmony and created a new culture.

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But Emperor Akbar suddenly abandoned the city.

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The exact reason remains unknown.

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His beautiful capital lay abandoned only about 15 years after its creation.