FATEHPUR SIKRI, a town in the Agra district in the United Provinces of India, on the road from Agra to Jaipur. Pop. (193I) 6,998. The magnificent ruins under which the mod em hamlet nestles represent one of Akbar's capitals. He founded it in 1569 as a thank-offering for the birth of a son, Selim, after wards the emperor Jahangir, foretold by Selim Chisti, a famous Mohammedan saint. The principal building is the great mosque, which is hardly surpassed by any in India. In its courtyard, which measures 35o ft. by 44o ft., stand two tombs. One is that of Selim Chisti, built of white marble, and the windows with pierced tracery of the most exquisite geometrical patterns. The other tomb, that of Nawab Islam Khan, is soberer and in excellent taste, but quite eclipsed by its surroundings. The crowning glory of the mosque is its southern gateway, in appearance, says Fergus son, "noble beyond that of any portal attached to any mosque in India, perhaps in the whole world." The palace of Jodh Bai, the Rajput wife of Akbar, consists of a courtyard surrounded by a gallery, above which rise buildings roofed with blue enamel. A rich gateway gives access to a terrace on which were the houses of Birbal and Miriam ; and beyond these is another courtyard, where were Akbar's private apartments and the exquisite palace of the Turkish sultana. Here are also the Panch Mahal or five storeyed building, consisting of five galleries in tiers, and the audience chamber. The special feature in the architecture of the city is the softness of the red sandstone, which could be carved almost as easily as wood, and so lent itself readily to the elab orate Hindu embellishment. Fatehpur Sikri was a favourite resi dence of Akbar throughout his reign, and his establishment here was of great magnificence. After Akbar's death Fatehpur Sikri was deserted, within 5o years of its foundation. The buildings are situated within an enclosure, walled on three sides and about 7 m. in circumference. They are all more or less in ruins, but are now being carefully tended by the Archaeological Department.