Akbar's Capitals: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and Lahore
Akbar built the Agra Fort in the 1560s and established Fatehpur Sikri in the 1570s, featuring the tomb of Salim Chishti. In 1585, he moved the capital to Lahore to stabilize the northwest region.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII: Themes in Indian History - Part II
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2021
Evidence Source
Link ↗Which of the following statements about Akbar are correct?
1. In 1560s, Akbar had the Fort of Agra constructed.
2. In 1570s, Akbar decided to build a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri.
3. Akbar also commissioned a white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Sikri.
4. In 1585, Akbar decided to shift the capital back to Agra.
[CAPF 2021]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Akbar’s choice of capitals reflected his military and political priorities. He moved from the established center of Agra to the spiritual-intellectual project of Fatehpur Sikri, and later to the strategic frontier of Lahore.
Authentic Source Evidence
Akbar began the Agra Fort in red sandstone in 1565. By 1571, he commenced building Fatehpur Sikri, which included the exquisite white marble tomb of the Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti. However, in 1585, he did not return to Agra; instead, he shifted the capital to Lahore to personally oversee the northwestern frontier.Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"Why was the tomb of Salim Chishti built in white marble?"
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"The movement of the Mughal capital was a 'floating' administrative strategy used to consolidate newly won territories and protect vulnerable frontiers."
Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)
Analysing authentic CAPFprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Mughal Imperial Geography helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Akbar Capital and Agra Fort builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →