National park · India
Fatehpur Sikriफ़तेहपुर सीकरी
Go as a half-day from Agra: leave by 7:00, walk the palace complex and Jama Masjid before 11:00, and be back in Agra by mid-afternoon; skip it if you have only one Agra day and want the Taj at sunrise.Go as a half-day from Agra: leave by 7:00 AM, walk the palace complex and Jama Masjid before 11:00 AM, and be back in Agra by mid-afternoon; skip it if you have only one Agra day and want the Taj at sunrise.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Oct–Feb
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
At a glance
- Country
- India
- Area
- 2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
- The walled complex is small — a few hundred metres across; the wider protected zone and the modern town around it are larger (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Agra
Fatehpur Sikri is Akbar's abandoned capital, a walled red-sandstone city on a low ridge about 40 km west of Agra, and a UNESCO World Heritage site in its own right rather than an appendage of the Taj. The court moved here in 1571, honoured the Sufi saint Salim Chishti, and left in 1585 when the water ran short. What remains is a compact, walkable complex: the Buland Darwaza gate, the Jama Masjid, and the palace courtyards behind them. There are no long trails — the walking here is a few kilometres of flagstone and steps — so treat it as a monument visit with a short ridge walk, not a hiking day.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1986Listed as Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal capital of Emperor Akbar.
Size and age
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²) · national park since 1986
The walled complex is small — a few hundred metres across; the wider protected zone and the modern town around it are larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Agra.
Why go
- Akbar's court, mosque and palaces in one walled complex you can walk in two to three hours.
- The Buland Darwaza is one of the largest gateways in India, and the Jama Masjid beside it is among the country's biggest mosques.
- It pairs with Agra in a single day, so it costs you half a day rather than a separate trip.
- The site is a working pilgrimage place as well as a monument: the tomb of Salim Chishti draws visitors of all faiths.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayAvoid
- JunAvoid
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, clear; cold mornings
- FebMild and dry
- MarWarming; dust haze builds
- AprHot by midday; flagstones burn
- MayPeak heat, often above 40°C (104°F)Peak heat, often above 104°F (40°C)
- JunHeat until the monsoon breaks
- JulMonsoon rain; slippery stone
- AugWettest weeks; grey light
- SepHumid; rain tapering
- OctDry, comfortable, clear
- NovCool and dry; best light
- DecCold nights, clear days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peacocks and parakeets around the ridge and ruinsOct–Mar · Most visible in the early morning before the site fills. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Macaques and stray dogs near the bazaar and parkingAll year · Do not feed them and keep food out of sight. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Agra
Car or taxi west on NH21 to the parking area below the gate; buses also run from Agra's Idgah stand and stop under Buland Darwaza.
50 min by car, 1.5 h by bus
Open the page →
From Agra by train
Local trains from Agra Cantonment to Fatehpur Sikri station, then a short rickshaw or walk up to the site.
1 h
Open the page →
From Jaipur
Drive east on NH21; a long half-day each way, so most people do it as a stop between the two cities.
4–5 h
Open the page →
From Delhi
Yamuna Expressway south, then NH19 and NH21 via Mathura and the Agra bypass.
4–5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Buland Darwaza and Jama Masjid | The great gate, the mosque courtyard, the tomb of Salim Chishti and the tomb of Islam Khan. | Open to all; no ticket for the courtyard, shoes off. |
| Palace complex (fort) | Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, Anup Talao, Birbal's house, the Pachisi court and the royal quarters. | Ticketed; enter through the gate above the parking area. |
| Elephant Gate side | Hiran Minar, the caravanserai and the outer gate on the north-west edge. | Open; a short walk from the main complex. |
| Modern town and bazaar | The town at the foot of the ridge, with the bus stand, eateries and basic hotels. | Open; the practical base if you stay overnight. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions within the complex and the town, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry, palace complex (foreign visitor) | INR 550–600 (≈ US$7) | person | 2026 estimate; the ticket is issued by the Archaeological Survey of India and is usually bundled with Agra monuments (check). |
| Entry, palace complex (Indian national) | INR 50 (≈ under US$1) | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Jama Masjid and Buland Darwaza | Free | person | No ticket for the mosque courtyard; shoes off, and a small charge for shoe storage is normal. |
| Parking to gate shuttle | INR 10–20 (≈ under US$1) | person | Runs from the parking area about 1 km below the gate (check). |
| Guide, 2 hours | INR 450–1,200 (≈ US$6–14) | group | Official-rate guides quote around ₹450 for two hours; touts ask more. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Monument ticket permit or guide
Jama Masjid no permit
Drone or tripod filming permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- ₹550–600≈ US$7
- ₹50≈ under US$1
- ₹10–20≈ under US$1
- ₹450–1,200≈ US$6–14
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Fatehpur Sikri — official site before you go.
Park rules
- Footwear
- Shoes off in the Jama Masjid courtyard and the tomb of Salim Chishti; carry a bag or pay for shoe storage.
- Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered, for both men and women, at the mosque and shrine.
- Touts and unofficial guides
- Guides inside the palace can be pushy; agree a price and duration before you start, or use the ticket-window guides.
- Climbing on monuments
- Do not climb carved surfaces or sit on fragile stone; the ASI staff will move you on.
- Litter and plastic
- Take rubbish out with you; plastic bags are discouraged inside the complex.
Where to stay
Near the park
Fatehpur Sikri town
Basic hotels and guesthouses around Buland Gate Crossing, useful if you want the site at opening time.
Near the park
Agra
The practical base: 40 km (25 mi) east, with the full range of hotels and the Taj Mahal.The practical base: 25 mi (40 km) east, with the full range of hotels and the Taj Mahal.
Safety
Heat and hot flagstones high
Slippery stone in the monsoon medium
Touts at the parking area and gate medium
Monkeys and dogs low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The walk from the parking area to the gate is about 1 km (0.6 mi), with a shuttle bus for part of it; the surface is uneven.The walk from the parking area to the gate is about 0.6 mi (1 km), with a shuttle bus for part of it; the surface is uneven.
- The palace complex has many steps and thresholds, so wheelchair access is limited to the flatter courtyard sections.
- The Jama Masjid courtyard is level but requires removing shoes.
Visiting lightly
- Buy from stalls in the town rather than at the gate, where prices are aimed at tour groups.
- Carry a refillable bottle; single-use plastic is discouraged at the site.
- Hire a licensed guide rather than an unofficial one — the fee stays in the local economy and the commentary is accurate.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Fatehpur Sikri?
The palace complex is ticketed: about ₹550–600 for foreign visitors and ₹50 for Indian nationals (2026 estimate). The Jama Masjid courtyard and Buland Darwaza are free to enter, though you remove your shoes. Add ₹10–20 for the shuttle from the parking area if you use it.
What are the best hikes in Fatehpur Sikri?
There are no real hikes. The site is a compact walled complex and the walking is a 2–3 hour loop of courtyards and steps, plus a short walk out to Hiran Minar. If you want a proper walk, do it in the Braj countryside around the town, not inside the monument.
When is the best time to visit Fatehpur Sikri?
October to March. November to February is cool and clear; April to June is very hot and the flagstones burn; July to September is wet and slippery. Whatever the month, arrive at opening time to beat the tour groups from Agra.
Can I visit Fatehpur Sikri as a day trip from Agra?
Yes, and that is how most people do it. It is about 40 km west of Agra — roughly 50 minutes by car, 1.5 hours by bus, or an hour by local train from Agra Cantonment. Allow half a day including travel.
Do I need a guide at Fatehpur Sikri?
No, but the site is easier to read with one. Official-rate guides quote around ₹450 for two hours; unofficial guides inside the palace can be pushy, so agree the price and duration first.
Is Fatehpur Sikri worth visiting if I have seen the Taj Mahal?
Yes, if you have a spare half-day in Agra. It is a separate UNESCO World Heritage site with a different story — Akbar's court and the Sufi shrine — and it is far less crowded than the Taj.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go