Akbar Founds Fatehpur Sikri

Timeline

1. 1568–1569Village of Sikri · Uttar PradeshSeeking an heir, Akbar visited the Sufi saint Salim Chishti in retreat at Sikri. The saint prophesied a son; Prince Salim was born at Sikri in 1569, and the emperor deemed the place auspicious, conceiving the idea of relocating and building a capital.
2. 1571–1573Fatehpur Sikri · Uttar PradeshAkbar ordered a new city built by plan on a ridge of the Vindhya foothills, including a palace quarter, offices, residential areas and the Jama Mosque. It was the Mughal's first systematically planned capital; the red sandstone complex reflects an Indo-Islamic fusion style.
3. 1573–1584Fatehpur Sikri · Uttar PradeshAfter conquering Gujarat, Sikri was given the name Fatehpur. For over a decade the court resided there; chapel debates, religious and administrative ceremonies were largely held there, and commemorative buildings such as the Buland Darwaza were completed in succession.
4. 1585Lahore · PunjabTo address the power vacuum in Kabul and tribal warfare in the northwest, Akbar moved the court to Lahore. Fatehpur Sikri ceased to be the permanent capital; later ages often explain the abandonment by water shortage, but the westward shift of military and political gravity was equally crucial.