Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti in Agra

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Location:

Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti is located within the great courtyard of "Jama Masjid" (Royal Mosque) complex of Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra . Sheikh Salim Chishti was a noble Sufi saint who lived between 1418 and 1571.

Belief related to it:

The Mughal emperor Akbar honored Sheikh Salim Chishti a lot. It is Akbar who founded Fatehpur Sikri in the saint's honour. According to belief, once the emperor made a visit to Sheikh Salim Chishti in 1568 to seek the saint's blessing for a son. The saint predicted that Akhbar would have three sons. And ultimately, the emperor subsequently did have three sons. Akbar named one of them Salim, in honour of the saint. It is Salim, who later was popularized as Jahangir.

Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti in Agra

Architecture:

The tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti is one of the finest and prominent examples of marble. The mausoleum of Sheikh Salim Chishti is made up of white marble exhibiting structural carvings of immense beauty. The Fathehpur Sikri complex is over 400 years old and is preserved by the Archeological Survey of India.

The entrance has four thin pillars with some kinds of Gujarati style twisting struts that curve upwards to the roof. The brackets are closed with 'jali' or inlay works of marbles of minute floral and geometrical designs. The named of God, the prophet and the four caliphs of Islam are mentioned at the arched entrance of the structure. Later, the emperor Shahjahan ordered to add for exquisite pietra dura work to pay his respect to the saint.

The tomb is constructed on a platform of about 1 m in height with a flight of five steps towards the entrance. The main tomb building is enclosed and decorated by delicate marble screens on all sides while the main tomb is located at the centre of the hall, which has a semi-circular shaped dome. The beautiful marble building is wonderfully carved. The plinth is decorated with mosaics of black and yellow marble arranged in geometric patterns. A "chhhaparkhat" made up of ebony wood surrounds the cenotaph made up of marble. The cenotaph is generally covered by a green cloth. The interior walls are decorated with white marbles while the pillars are of ivory. The Arabic inscriptions around the outer wall of the tomb chamber are taken from the verses of Koran, which is of special significance to the Sufis. The floor of the chamber is covered with white marble, inlaid with stones of different colors.

Devotees come here to take the blessings of the saint and seek fulfillment of their wishes. It is believed that tying a thread on the marble screens of the main tomb building fulfills the wishes of the people. Everyday, people from all religion come to offer flowers and pray at the shrine and also tie cotton threads in the belief that their wishes would be fulfilled and they would be blessed with an offspring. During winter, the Saint's Urs (death anniversary) is celebrated with great devotion by his followers. Next to the dargah there is a courtyard where the Quawali singers sit and sing.

Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti-View from the corner

Other Places to Visit in Agra:

Some other tourist attractions in Agra are as a mentioned below:

1. Taj Mahal: Agra, the Taj city is famous for the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The architectural brilliance of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries.

Tajmahal at Sunset

2. Agra Fort: The great Emperor Akbar in 1565 A.D constructed this huge Agra fort. Within the fort are a number of wonderful buildings, including the Moti Masjid, Diwane-I-Aam, Diwani-I-Khas and Musanman Burj, where the Emperor Shah Jahan died in imprisonment beside Jahangirs place, Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh Mahal.
3. Itmad - Ud Daula: The Itmad -Ud -Daula was built in memoriam of Empress Noor Jehan's father Mirza Ghiyas Beg. The building manifests beautiful ornamentations of pietra dura inlay and lattice work marble screens.
4. Sikandara: Sikandra, a suburb of Agra, only 13 km away from the Agra Fort. The last resting place of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
5. Fatehpur Sikri: This fortified city comprises of majestic gateways grand palaces. The city contains many beautiful palaces for the emperor's queens like Jodha Bai, Mariyam and his Turkish sultana. Each building exhibits a style of its own.