WAS FATEHPUR SIKRI BUILT BY AKBAR OVER HINDU AND JAIN TEMPLES?
RESEARCH BY ASI CONFIRM THE BELIEF NEW DELHI: Did Akbar build Fathepur Sikri over a temple? According to the recent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India, the heritage city not only rests over a temple, but the state of the idols excavated also point towards mutilation and defacement. According to D.V. Sharma, Superintending archaeologist, ASI “the fracture marks on the statues proves they were defaced by chisels and hammers and there is evidence of a demolition of a temple.” Presenting the findings of his excavations in an illustrated talk here on Tuesday, Sharma showed slides of the remains of a temple under Bir Chhabili Tila, a mound near the monument along with the existence of a water palace under the Anup Talao, within the premises of the monument. The ASI team which began its excavation since December has discovered mutilated Jaina images, including the remains of a temple with rubber masonry and mud mortar walls measuring 1.35 metres in width. More important is the
