I had no idea about the existence of such a place called Fatehpur Sikri. But during my visit to the Taj Mahal a co-passenger informed me that he is going to Fatehpur as well. It is only 40 kms from Agra a visit to it should be a lifetime experience.

On hearing about the splendour of this erstwhile capital of Akbar the Great, I was overwhelmed by curiosity and I directed the cab driver to move towards this newly added destination on my itinerary.

I was wonderstruck when I reached there. Oh, what a marvel of human hands! Among the various fascinating monuments inside this royal city the Panch Mahal, or Palace of Five Storeys, and the Buland Darwaza, the massive gate which provides entrance to the complex, stunned me. I’m not a connoisseur of art, but still I can go on to say that the beauty and the corinthian grace of Fatehpur Sikri is unsurpassable- not even by the Taj. The mammoth chess board, where human figures were used as chess pieces and moved at the emperor's will, left me with awe.

Akbar had planned this olympian city as his capital, but severe scarcity of water led him to abandon it for good.

And now when I recollect my trip to this grandiose place I can only say that without this my tour of India would have been shrouded in infamy- for not visiting this chef d’ oeuvre of the Great Mughal Akbar.