Of emperors and elephants

The 2008 film 'Jodhaa Akbar' starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles.

The bath at the Red Fort in Agra. It was fragnanced with thousands of rose petals for the empress to bath in. The Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The musicians platform at Fatehpur Sikri, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A pillar at Fatehpur Sikri, it shows designs influenced by three religions: Islamic zig-zags, Hindu lotus motifs and Christian fleurons.

The tower built by Akbar in remembrance of his favourite elephant, Hawa'i. The pertruding decorations are supposed to simulate tusks, but thankfully they aren't tusks!

The astrologer's platform at Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar consulted his astrologer here regularly. I think  we should have one in every park.

Hey Audrey!

I want to tell you about the powerful Moghul emperor, Akbar. He lived in the 1600's and ruled most of India peacefully for 50 years, after ascending to the thrown when he was only 13 years old. He is known for his religious tolerance (very ahead of his time), he was born a Muslim, but married ladies from various religions, allowing them to practice their beliefs without having to convert. (This is portrayed in the beautiful and romantic film 'Jodhaa Akbar', which depicts his marriage to a Hindu princess). He certainly knew how to please the ladies, he had many wives and an extensive harem. Allegedly he liked playing hide and seek blind-folded with his harem ladies, or playing chess, using them as the chess pieces. He resided in many beautiful palaces, amongst them the Red Fort in Agra, and Fatehpur Sikri in the country, which he built when a sage told him that it was the place he would conceive a son.