Who built the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri?

The Ibadat Khana, or 'House of Worship', was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1575 CE at his capital city, Fatehpur Sikri [t1][t4]. Initially established as a meeting house for Muslim theologians, Akbar later expanded the scope of discussions in 1578 to include scholars from various faiths, including Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Jainism [t2][t6]. The purpose of this structure was to facilitate religious and spiritual debates, which eventually led Akbar to conclude that all religions lead to the same ultimate goal [t2]. These intellectual exchanges played a critical role in the development of his syncretic philosophy, Din-i-Ilahi [t3][t5]. The building featured an octagonal platform where the Emperor sat, surrounded by his ministers and scholars [t5]. While Fatehpur Sikri served as the imperial capital from 1571 to 1585, the Ibadat Khana remains one of its most historically significant structures for its role in fostering interfaith dialogue [t3][t6].

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibadat_Khana
2. [2] https://jogamayadevicollege.ac.in/uploads/1585044615.pdf
3. [3] https://www.worldhistory.org/Ibadat_Khana/