A short drive from Agra you come upon the city of Fatehpur Sikri, which served as the capital of the Mughal empire between 1570 and 1586. But as quickly as it had been built, it was abandoned. A popular tale is attached to the city’s origin, as is often the case in notable cities throughout India.

According to the legend, Emperor Akbar did not have a male heir. Not knowing what else to do, he made a pilgrimage to ask for the blessings of the powerful saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. The Emperor’s prayer was fulfilled, and it wasn not long before a son was born to him. In celebration of the saint who had granted his prayer, Akbar named the prince Salim, and decided to establish a new city to celebrate his son’s birth. And thus, the magnificent Fatehpur Sikri, the new capital, came into being.

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India is a land of intense religious activity – it is littered with shrines and holy men assert their divinity from every street corner. If you find yourself in this wonderful yet confusing country and are looking to immerse yourself in the search for enlightenment, then a visit to Meher Baba’s shrine in the heart of India is the best place to start.

Meher Baba lived in India from 1894-1969 and is believed by many to be the Christ, the Ancient One, come again “not to teach but to awaken” through divine love. For 44 years he maintained silence in the midst of intense activity, serving the needy in India as well as travelling to the West on a number of occasions, gathering followers from all over the world.

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When visiting a country where customs are vastly different than what you are accustomed to, it is always a wise decision to make a note of them, especially those customs dealing with age-old beliefs. We will cover here a few of the basics you should be aware of when visiting India.

Indians, whether Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, have a strong code of conduct and are polite when addressing strangers. Long train and bus journeys are often punctuated with inquisitive grillings by fellow travelers.

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