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Why did Akbar build Fatehpur Sikri near Agra?

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Map highlighting the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India in orange, with its capital Lucknow marked. Surrounding countries including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, and others are shown in gray, providing regional context within South Asia.
Uttar Pradesh

Akbar chose to build his capital at the village of Sikri due to his deep gratitude toward the Muslim hermit Chishti.

At the time, Akbar was childless and sought the hermit's counsel. Chishti correctly prophesied that the emperor would be blessed with a son. When the child, Salim (who later ruled as Jahangir), was born in Sikri in 1569, Akbar deemed the location auspicious and decided to establish his capital there.1

The city was later renamed Fatehpur, meaning "city of victory," to commemorate Akbar's successful conquest of Gujarat in 1573.1