Fatehpur Sikri Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Fatehpur Sikri Transportation

Once the capital of the Mughal Empire under the reign of Emperor Akbar, the fortress city of Fatehpur Sikri, meaning “City of Victory,” stands almost completely intact today. 25 miles (40km) west of Agra, this Indo-Islamic fortress is a quick side excursion when visiting the Taj Mahal.

Coming from Jaipur or Delhi

Both Jaipur and Delhi have train service that can transport you quickly and efficiently to Agra. The Taj Express from Delhi takes just under 3 hours while the train from Jaipur takes about 4. From the train station you can catch a bus or hire a car to take you onward to Fatehpur Sikri

Both Delhi and Jaipur also have wide highways so driving or having a hired car to Fatehpur Sikri is an option. A car with a driver costs about 50/USD each way. The drive from Delhi is about 5 hours and from Jaipur about 6.

Getting There From Agra

Arranging a private car is easy enough from your hotel in Agra. If there are more than two or three people in your party, it is an easy and comfortable way to go to Fatehpur Sikri. The payment is arranged ahead of time and it is advisable that you book the car for the entire day. The cost is around 1600/INR which is approximately 25/USD or 22/Euros.

The bus ride to Fatehpur Sikri takes around one hour and costs about fifty cents. However the bus doesn’t leave the station until it is full, and by full we mean people standing in the aisles. The bus lumbers along, stopping on occasion to let someone off or pick up. In Fatehpur Sikri the bus stops near the clock tower and bazaar, not far from Jama Masjid. They are trying to prevent pollution from destroying the fragile buildings. As it is a steep climb, there are auto rickshaws that run on natural gas to take you to the gate for a few rupees. The public buses run from Agra’s Idgah bus station between the hours of 6am to 7pm. If you miss the last bus, there are taxis who can take you back to Agra but there is a hefty fee and surcharge for it being after hours.

Booking a tour to Fatehpur Sikri is probably a good choice if you aren’t comfortable with the public transportation option or hiring a private car. On a scheduled tour you’d also get a guide through the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which would grant you information you might not get if you toured on your own or used one of the local guides at the gate. The buses are clean, less crowded and inclusive of all additional fees and services.

While the Taj Mahal might be a more romantic symbol of devotion, the story of Fatehpur Sikri was also built out of the love of a father to his son.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transportation to Fatehpur Sikri.