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Salim Chisti Mausoleum
Salim Chisit Mausoleum, India
Location |
Fatehpur Sikri |
Year of Construction |
1580 - 1581 |
Built by |
Akbar |
Significance |
Devotees have a strong belief that their wish gets fulfilled if one ties a thread on the screens which are made up of marble in the main tomb. |
Introduction
Saleemuddin Chishti who was very populary known by the name Salim Chisti was leading the Shaikzada division and fought the battle of Haldighati against Maharana Pratap along with the great Mughal Emperor Akbar. Salim Chisti as many people who have experienced said that he did wonders and was a great Sufi Mystic. The Mughal Emperor was a staunch believer of this Sufi and hence used to trust him blindly and used to take his advice as well. He had such great regard for him that it is said that he had built the Fatehpur Sikri around the camp of the Sufi saint and all of his Mughal courtiers and court were shifted there. After the death of the sufi saint Akbar built this tomb in memory of this great legend whom he regarded a lot. The Salim Chisti’s mausoleum is termed as the perfect example of the architecture of Mughals in India and was built in the year 1580 to 1581. This is located near the Zenana Rauza and faces towards the south of the Buland Darwaza within the vicinity of Jama Masjid which is measuring 350 feet by 440 feet. This is the burial place of the great Sufi saint, Salim Chisti who was born in the year 1478 and died in the year 1572, he was the descendent of the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti who belonged to Ajmer. Akbar constructed his mausoleum as a token of gratitude as he had blessed Akbar and had predicted that he would be bestowed by a son named Jahangir.
This mausoleum rests upon a platform of around 1 meter in height and has a small staircase of 5 in number leading to the portico entrance. This building is covered by marble screens which are very delicate on all the sides and in the main hall’s center lies the mausoleum and this has a sing dome which is semi circular in shape. This building is very beautifully and delicately carved and in appearance resembles an ivory. The plinth has an arrangement of geometry shape with mosaics which are made with yellow and black marble.
The marble cenotaph is enclosed by chhaparkhat and a green cloth is usually used to cover this. The door which leads to the main chamber is delicately carved with patterns of arabesque and has the Koran inscriptions on it. The interior bays are of brown marble and the Koranic verses have a blue backdrop on the relief panels. The tomb chamber is decorated with colorful stones and also has paintings and carvings on it.
The tomb has a great significance and the devotees have a blind belief that all of their wishes get fulfilled if they were to tie a thread on the tomb and once the wish gets fulfilled there is no need to return to this place to remove the thread.
Construction – Salim Chisit’s Mausoleum
The construction started in 1580 and got completed in 1581, the marble building is so beautifully carved that it looks like it is fully done with marble. This is very neatly done and has delicate carvings on it. The serpentine brackets which emerges from pillars are carved very stylishly and is like the pattern of a peacock’s tail and the slopes just adds on to the beauty of it. The verses that are carved on the tomb are of great meaning and hence has a lot of significance. The construction of this tomb took only one year for completion.
The Great History
Akbar had no heirs and hence was desperate to have a son who could take care of his throne after him. His earlier two queens had no issues but Salim Chisti said that he would have an heir and blessed him with a son and a son was born to him and his third wife Jodha Bai and hence in honor of this great sufi saint he built the Mausoleum in Fatehpur Sikri. Jodha Bai was the Mughal Emperor’s favorite queen and her son was the king Jahangir.
Rules and Regulations
- One has to strictly adhere to the timing which they specify.
- Cameras are restricted in few of the places and hence better to avoid carrying it.
- A person under the influence of alcohol is strictly not permitted.
How to Reach Salim Chisit’s Mausoleum
By Road
You can either hire a car which would be a better option or can alternatively board a bus as the frequency of buses is more either from Agra or Jaipur hence making the wait time less for the transports to arrive. And the distance from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri is hardly 40 kms hence taking about less than an hour’s time to reach there.
By Air
The airport is under construction and hence is proposed to get over by March 2012 in the meanwhile there is accessibility for small planes for landing.
By Rail
The city of Agra is well connected to rails and hence people can get down here and take a taxi or bus to reach Fatehpur Sikri. The journey is comfortable and hence there would be no problems in terms of reaching Agra by rail as Fathepur Sikri is not very far from Agra.
Other Transportation
One can also reach this place from Agra in case if they want to visit that place as well and there are many convenient transport connecting to the road and it is just 40 kms from Agra and hence is better to hire a taxi or go in for the UPSRTC’s that are very frequently running between Agra to Fatehpur Sikri and from Fatehpur Sikri to Agra.
Best Time to Visit :
If you want to enjoy every bit of your trip then the best time to visit this place is from November to February.
Tourist Places Near Salim Chisit’s Mausoleum
Birbal’s Palace
Among the important monuments of Fatehpur Sikri Birbal’s palace is considered to be one among them. This was the place where Birbal used to reside. Built in the year 1571, this is considered as one among the imperial harem’s beautiful buildings. With two entrances one on the Northwest and the other on the Southeast and has 4 rooms which are connected to each other very well. There are talks saying that it was Akbar who had built it but then there are other set of people who say that it was Birbal who got it constructed himself.
Pachisi Court
Pachisi Court or the Chaupar Court is said to be very close to Diwan-i-Aam and was built by Akbar the Mughal Emperor in the year 1572 till the year 1575. This had huge sand stones on either side with the courtyard in white and black color, where they used to play the board game called Pachisi court which is similar to chess.
Hiran Minar
Hiran Minar is situated in the open plains with 21.34 meters in height. The Hiran Minar also known as the Deer Tower got the name after the conversion of the polo ground which surrounds the tower to the deer sanctuary. Up to a height of 3,910 meters this tower has the shape of an octagon and after that it is circular in shape. Being built in the shape of an octagon this tower rests upon the square base wherein the lower platform which is square shape is 21.96 meters and 1.2 meters is the octagonal platform. This tower has six point stars and rows of hexagon in an alternate arrangement. The stone tusks are being used now and has replaced the ancient elephant tusks which were very prominent and used to protrude from each of the star’s center. The elephant tusks of the ancient time which were pure were a symbol of novelty and grandeur of the Mughal Empire that ruled at that time.
Daftar Khana
Daftar Khana is located on the palace complex’s south side and hence is built in typical Mughal architecture style and in shape it is rectangle with huge windows and it is said that Akbar used to be available to the public through this window everyday.
Anup Talao
This is a wonderful pool which has a platform in the middle and there are four bridges which leads to the ornamental swimming pool. This is a beautiful sight with many important and famous buildings surrounding the royal enclave. The house of dreams or khwabgah, Akbar’s house also surrounds this.
Naubat Khana
Naubat Khana is also known as the drum house or Naqqar Khana, where the musicians used to inform the public about the arriving of the king by beating the drums. This is located after the elephant gate or hathi pol gate.
Ibadat Khana
This is the house of worship which was a house for meetings and was built by the great Mughaal Emperor Akbar in the year 1575, where the foundation of faith, called Din-e-llahi was laid by Akbar.
Jama Masjid
The Jama Masjid means Friday mosque and probably the first in the buildings to be constructed. The entrance to courtyard is huge and later aft 5years the Buland Darwaza got added. Built in the typical Indian mosque, the feature that distinguishes this from others is the rows of chhatri which is above the sanctuary with the seven bays having 3 mihrabs each and the central one covered by dome and white marble is used to decorate it.
Buland Darwaza
One can get access to the mosque Jama Masjid through the Buland Darwaza which is in Fatehpur Sikri. This is located on a hill and is very magnificent and built in a typical Mughal style of architecture which is built in red sand stone with white marble as well. This is in arch shape and is very prominent and marks a history. The meaning of Buland Darwaza is high door and is 176 feet in height from the ground & 134 steps above top step. The Buland Darwaza is very prominent and hence can be seen even from a very long distance due to its magnificent size. There are many calligraphic inscriptions taken from the Quran which is mentioned on the face of the chattris and pillars hence making it very catchy and impressive.
Tomb of Salim Chisti
This Tomb was built keeping on mind the faith symbol and even many years down the line this has been a mixture of faith and belief with sovereignty and power. This was built in memory of the great Salim Chisti who was a Sufi saint, and was built in the year 1571 and represented as the Mughal Empire’s capital until 1585. Constructed with red sand stone earlier but now it has been modified and has been made up with marble entirely. The highlight of this Tomb is the jails or the lattice work which is beautifully done on the windows and another striking feature is that it reminds one of the pearls amidst the red stones that are used for this.
Ankh Micholi Treasury
Ankh Micholi Treasury is a must see as this beautiful Treasury was built in honor of Sheik Salim Chisti a great sufi saint and was the Mughals Royal Treasure during their leadership in Fatehpur Sikri. The astrologer’s seat is the highlight of the building as this is very uniquely done. And the designs that are being used to make this amazingly beautiful are of the Buddhist architectural and painting style.
Panch Mahal
The Panch Mahal has got its own charm and its structures are based on the buildings ground floor and has eight four columns. Towards the buildings upper part only four columns are left which is filled with lots of air. There is a dome on the palace top and they have the typical Mughal jallis which adds to the beauty of the Mahal. Inspired by the Buddhist Temple’s architectural style this Mahal which is in Fatehpur Sikri used to be a place for relaxing by the Emperor Akbar.
Diwani-i-Aam
Diwani-i-Aam also known popularly as the Hall of Public Audience used to be a hall for addressing the general public by the Emperor. Built with red sandstone and plastered with plaster which is of white shell this has halls which are divided in three aisles and nine arches. There is a chamber which is rectangle in shape and from here the emperor used to address the people.Constructed in marble the ‘jharokha’ with three opening which are of arch in shape and are of precious stones was called as the (Throne room) ‘Takht-i-Murassa’. This has connection to the royal apartments and the ladies used to see the ceremonies of Diwani-i-Aam through the windows which were made of marble and had screens with perforation both on the left and right of the chamber of the emperor. ‘Baithak’ was the name given to the marble dias which was below this chamber. The Vazirs who used to present the petitions used to sit here.
Diwan-Khana-i-Khaas
Hall of Private audience or Diwan-khana-i-khaas is on the right which is a two storied building and once you enter you will find the single vault chamber and in the middle there is a column which is carved and supports the colossal bracketed capital.
Nagina Masjid and Hawa Mahal
The palace of winds or Hawa Mahal is on Jodhabai’s palace’s right side the wind tower which are small are facing the garden and attached to palace. The garden is in the style of Char Bagh which is divided by the channels which are shallow and intersect in right angles.
Fast Facts
Year of Construction: 1580 to 1581
Completed In: 1581
Time Taken: 1 year
Built By: Akbar
Dedicated to: The great sufi saint, Salim Chisti
Location: FAtehpur Sikri
Building Type: Mughal architecture
Highlights:
The tomb has a great significance and the devotees have a blind belief that all of their wishes get fulfilled if they were to tie a thread on the tomb and once the wish gets fulfilled there is no need to return to this place to remove the thread.
Interesting Facts of Salim Chisit’s Mausoleum
- This is considered as a wish fulfilling Tomb.
- Whoever has tied the thread has never got disappointed in terms of his wish getting fulfilled.
- The verses which are taken from Kuran have a deep meaning and hence people have a lot of respect for the carvings.
- This is in the center of the building.
- It took just 1 year for the completion of the mausoleum.