Established four centuries ago by Emperor Akbar around 40 kms from Agra, it is the first planned city in Indo-Islamic style. Perched at the top of a rugged rocky ridge, Fatehpur Sikri was built as a sign of the Emperor Akbar's gratitude to Sheikh Salim Chisti. Legend goes that Akbar, who had no son, went to the Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti to seek his blessings. Soon enough, prince Jahangir was born to his Hindu wife Jodha Bai. Work on the city started in 1571 and was completed 15 years later. It is a beautiful blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural elements in red sand stone. The sandstone is richly ornamented with carving and fretwork. Christened as 'Romance in stone', some of the grand structures at Fatehpur Sikri include the Panch Mahal, the Buland Darwaza, the tomb of Salim Chisti, the Jama Masjid Mosque and the life-size chessboard where courtiers could play the role of pieces. The city was abandoned 14 years after it's creation due to paucity of water. Today it's a ghost city, its architecture is in a perfect state of preservation, and wandering through the palaces it is easy to imagine that this was once a royal residence and a dynamic cultural centre. Choice of accommodation in Fatehpur Sikri is limited. The Tourist complex (Phone: 05619 - 2490) offers clean and affordable accommodation with reasonable food. The Archaeological Survey of India also has a guest house with spacious well-furnished rooms at a very low rate.

A grand gate located in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. This triumphal arch was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, when he defeated the king of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573. The name means 'High Door' and this victory arch rises to a height of 40 meters or 175 feet. It is the most striking monument in Fatehpur Sikri and can be seen from quite a distance. It is a magnificent structure built in red sandstone with decorations in white marble. With calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran, it also testifies to the religious tolerance of Akbar the Great. The inscription on the Buland Darwaza is attributed to Jesus Christ. It reads, "The World is but a bridge, pass over but build no houses on it."

Synthesis of the bold masculine red sandstone structures, the construction of the mausoleum was begun by Akbar himself, and completed in 1613 by his son Jahangir. The entrance is through a huge gateway that blocks view of the tomb from outside. Placed in the centre of char bagh, the four storied monument has three floors in red sandstone and top floor in marble. Inside, the original ceilings had frescoes in blue and gold. You can easily spot monkeys, deer and black bucks near the tomb. The place is 10 kms from Agra and can be visited by hiring an auto rickshaw for the day. It opens from Sunrise to sunset.

Also known as Bharatpur Bird sanctuary, it is a marshy area, which was originally built as a hunting retreat of the kings of Bharatpur. Now declared a protected national park, one can see over 300 species of migratory birds, including the endangered Siberian cranes coming to nest in winter. There are regular buses plying to the bird sanctuary(25 kms away) from Fatehpur Sikri.There is a tourist lodge within the park and early morning boat rides into the marsh are a treat for bird lovers.

One of the major pilgrimage for the Hindus is just 58 km from Agra . Krishna, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu was born here. It comes before Agra , if you are traveling from Delhi.