[ Edit ] Overview

Standing next to, and often overshadowed by Agra's better known Taj Mahal, Agra Fort is nevertheless a beautiful monument with a rich and colorful history.

Construction of the Agra Fort was begun by Emperor Akbar from 1565 to 1573, over an existing fort ruled by the Sultan Lodi of Delhi, and designed primarily for military purposes.  Additions were made until the time of his grandson Emperor Shah Jahan who helped transformed Agra Fort into a luxurios palace for the Mughals. 

Agra Fort is one of the most important forts in India - and certainly the most important under the Mughal empire. Emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb all lived and governed from this fort at some stage of their respective rule.  Situated on the west bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, the imposing red sandstone complex, surrounded by a deep moat once filled with water from the Yamuna itself, includes courtly buildings, palaces, mosques, and gardens.  The British destroyed and converted much of the fort into barracks in the 19th century and only a fraction of the original structures remain today.

Agra Fort is listed on the World Heritage Sites (UNESCO).

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Visitor Quick Facts

[ Edit ] Famous For

Agra Fort is famous for :

• Being included in the World Heritage Site list (UNESCO).
• For the beautiful collection of Mughal style palaces, mosques, and other buildings.
• For being the place from where Emperor Shah Jahan would gaze upon his beloved Taj Mahal while being imprisoned by his own son.

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[ Edit ] Location

Uttar Pradesh, India

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[ Edit ] Best Time To Visit

October through March is the best time to visit Agra and the Agra Fort when the weather is cooler. 

Summers are hot with maximum temperature soaring to 45 Celsius.  Since much of what there is to see Agra Fort is outdoors, this season is best avoided.  The monsoon season is characterised by heavy rains and high humidity but travelling during this season is somewhat tolerable in comparison to the summer months in Agra.

As such, the winters season while cold and foggy is the best time to visit the Agra Fort.

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[ Edit ] Days of Operation

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[ Edit ] Hours of Operation

Agra Fort is open from sunrise to sunset.

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[ Edit ] Entry Charges & Fees

Entry charges to the Agra Fort are:

• Indians: Rs. 20
• Foreigners: Rs. 300
• Camera: Rs. ___
• Video Camera: Rs. 25

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Historical Quick Facts

[ Edit ] Type

Heritage / Cultural

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[ Edit ] Architecture

Mughal

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[ Edit ] Construction Period

1565 - 1573

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[ Edit ] Built By

Construction of Agra Fort was begun by Emperor Akbar and additional buildings were added through the rule of Akbar's grandson - Emperor Shah Jahan.

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[ Edit ] History

The site of the Agra Fort was known in ancient times as Badalgarh.  During the rule of the Rajputs, records indicate that the site had a brick fort around 1080 AD. 

The Sultan of Delhi, Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517), was the first to shift his capital from Delhi to Agra and it was under his and his son’s rule that several palaces, a mosque, and wells were built at this site.

In 1526, when Ibrahim Lodi was defeated and killed at the battle of Panipat, that Agra and the then existing fort first became part of the Mughal Empire. 

Emperor Akbar rose to power in 1556 and chose Agra as his capital city and moved from Lahore.  He started building the red sandstoned fortress over the damaged ruins of the earlier Lodi fort.  Construction of Agra Fort began in 1565 and was completed with the work of 4,000 men, at a cost of Rs 35 lakhs (~$75,000), and over an eight year period. 

When the Mughals moved the capital back to Delhi, the fort was sieged by Jats in 1761 and they plundered what they could from the fort.  The Marathas then had their turn until, in 1803, the British East India Company captured Agra Fort from the Marathas and turned it into a garrison. Many buildings and palaces were unfortunately brought down or modified to make space for their army.

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[ Edit ] Myths or Facts

Myths and facts about Agra Fort:

• Renamed by Emperor Shah Jahan, Amar Singh Gate was originally known as "Akbar Darwaza".  According to the legend, the brave Rao Amar Singh of Jodhpur killed the Chief Treasurer of Shah Jehan with his knife in front of the Emperor himself. In an attempt to escape, he mounted his horse and jumped over the high walls of Agra Fort.  Amar Singh lived but his horse died -  a red sandstone statue of the horse was erected at the very spot where it died.  Amar Singh was arrested and executed. However, Emperor Shah Jahan was won over with admiration for the courage displayed by Amar Singh and named the gate in his honor.

• Shivaji came to Agra in 1666 to meet Aurangzeb in the Diwan-i-Khas at Agra Fort. In the audience he was deliberately placed behind men of lower rank.  Insulted he stormed out of the imperial audience but was confined to remain in the fort.  Fearing execution, he managged a heroice escape from the fort.  A statue of Shivaji, riding a horse, is erected outside Agra Fort in memory of him.

• While both forts are made out of red sandstone, the Agra Fort is arguably the real Red Fort.  Not only is the Agra Fort much bigger than the Red Fort of New Delhi, the Mughals themselves often referred to it as the 'Lal Haveli', or the "Red Bungalow" rather than as a fort.

• After the battle at Panipat, the Mughals captured the fort at Agra along with its vast treasure. This treasure included a 105 carat diamond from Golconda (Hyderabad) that was later named the "Koh-i-Noor".  This diamond through a circuitous route - Agra to Delhi to Persia and eventually to Afghanistan - finally landed up with the British and is now part of the British Crown Jewels.

• At the time Emperor Akbar built the Agra Fort, the Yamuna river actually lapped on to the fort's walls.  As such, there was a gate (Khizri Gate) into the fort from the river and ghats built to load goods transported through river into the fort.  Over time, the course of the Yamuna shifted and the Khizri Gate has long since been shut. 

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[ Edit ] Architecture And Structural Description

Agra Fort has an irregular semi-circle footprint with one of the walls running parallel to the Yamuna River and is surrounded by a deep moat. The fort consists of set of imposing walls made of red sandstone with a circumference of 2 5 kms and covering an area of approximately 95 acres. The outer wall is ~40 feet high while the inner wall is 70 feet high. There are ten towers and bastions built at regular intervals with battlements.

Agra Fort has four entrances / gateways and one other opening into the river (Khizri Gate) However, only two gates remain open today (Delhi Gate and Amar Singh Gate). The beautiful Delhi Gate was built as the Emperor’s own entrance. Given that this entrance is now used by the Indian Army, it is not accessible to the public Amar Singh Gate is how visitors enter the fort.

Amar Singh Gate was originally had colourful tiles. Although the tiles are lost, the inlay patterns remain in the stone into which they were set.  For defensive reasons, gate were positioned perpendicular to the fort's walls. The 90 degree turns before each was a deliberate design to make it difficult for enemies to invade the fort. In historical times, attackers used elephants to charge the heavily fortified gates. Without a straight run-up to gather speed (given the right angle layout) it wasn’t possible for attackers to use elephants or other means to break down the gates.

Official records suggest that at one point Agra Fort had some 500+ buildings.  Only 30 of the original buildings from the Mughal period remain. Most were destroyed by the British for raising barracks (between 1803 and 1862). Today, only about the third of the fort is accessible by the public while the balance is used by the Indian Army. Of these, the Delhi Gate, Akbari Gate and Bengali Mahal, are representative of buildings built during the reign of Emperor Akbar while the majority of the remaining buildings are credited to Emperor Shah Jahan.

The buildings in Agra Fort display a beautiful mix of Mughal architecture (mixing of Hindu and Islamic styles).

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[ Edit ] Things To See

Jahangir Mahal
Entering the Agra Fort from the Amar Singh Gate, the first building visitors see is the Jahangir Mahal. Built between 1565-69 by Emperor Akbar to act as “Zannana” (royal women's quarters), Jehangir Mahal is a stunning example of Mughal architecture and includes rooms, halls, corridors, galleries and verandahs, built around a central courtyard.

Built out of red sandstone, it is amongst the only original buildings, built by Emperor Akrbar, remaining at Agra Fort.  One of the key architectural achievements at the Jahangir Mahal is the use of ornamental stone brackets to support beams in the complex. This technique was subsequently copied in other palaces in India.

Khas Mahal
Along the river front is the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan from 1631 - 40, for his two favourite daughters  - Jahanara and Roshanara – are a set of two almost identical pavilions separated from the central hall by a high marble wall.  The complex includes a beautiful water fountain, pavilions and open courtyards.

Built out of red sandstone, the building has a white shell plaster exterior.  The interiors were opulently ornamented in floral and geometrical patterns and the royal colours, gold and blue, used abundantly can still be seen in traces on the walls and the ceilings.

Anguri Bagh
Anguri Bagh, or the “Garden of Grapes”, was built by Shah Jahan in 1637. The Khas Mahal stands to its east and there are red sandstone arcades on the other three sides. It was the primary garden for the royal ladies. The garden is divided into 85 neat compartments in an intricate geometrical pattern and was paved with marble with a fountain at its centre. There was also a private bath of the royalty at Anguri Bagh.

As the name suggests, this garden was known for having choicest of grapes during season and for flowers throughout the year. The water tanks near the Jehangiri Mahal supplied the ponds and baths of Anguri Bagh.

Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal or "Glass Palace" was the royal dressing room and features tiny mirrors and glass mosaic decorations inlaid into its walls and is arguably the most beautiful in India in terms of glass décor. 

The Sheesh Mahal complex was built by Shah Jahan between 1631 – 40 and consists of two large chambers of similar dimensions connected through a broad arched opening in the middle. The walls have built extra thick to ensure cool interiors.  The extensive use of mirrors in its walls and ceilings, and imported from Syria, created a beautiful effect when illuminated with candles.  Each of the chambers had a marble tank with fountains and plumbing for hot and cold water and there were arrangements for a steam bath as well.

Musamman Burj
The Musamman Burj, located to the left of the Khas Mahal, is an octagonal tower with an open pavilion.  It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1631–40 for his beloved wife / queen, Mumtaz Mahal.  The Musamman Burj  issituated at the location where the main wall of Agra Fort takes a turn towards the east along the bend in the Yamuna and thus has one of the best views from the fort of the Taj Mahal.

The tower has a gilded copper dome and the floor in the building has been paved with marble to resemble the board for playing chess.  It is believed that Emperor Akbar had built a small marble palace here, which was subsequently built upon by Emperor Jehangir before it took its current shape under the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan.

It was here at the Musamman Burj, that his son, Aurangazeb, imprisoned Shah Jahan along with his daughter Begum Jahanara, till his death.   It is said that Shah Jahan took his last breath from the tower while gazing at the Taj Mahal.

Mina Masjid
Mina Masjid (or the Heavenly Mosque) was for the personal use of the Emperor and is one of the smallest mosque in the world.  This mosque was built between 1631 – 40, and its prayer hall and paved court are both made with white marble.

Shahi Burj
One of the more ornate buildings in Agra Fort, Shahi Burj is a small pavilion situated close to this Musamman Burj.  This pavilion has stylized lotus tank with a richly carved fountain with inlaid semi-precious stones.

Diwan-i-Khas
Diwan-i-Khas, or the "Hall of Private Audience" was used by the Emperors to receive kings and dignitaries. Constructed in 1635, the building is open on three sides by 5 arched openings. The chambers are decorated with refined inlay work in floral patterns and exquisite carvings.

The Diwan-i-Khas features and features two thrones - one in white and other in black. Emperor Shah Jahan is believed to have used the white throne for relaxation, and the black throne to watch elephant fights in the adjoining courtyard.

Macchi Bhawan
Macchi Bhawan is located opposite to the Diwan-i-Khas.  The fountains and the tanks here were believed to have been used by the Emperor to raise gold fish – thus the name Macchi Bhawan or the “Fish Chamber”.  However, formal records indicate that Macchi Bhawan was actually the treasury used to store imperial ornaments and jewels. Built around a spacious courtyard, this double-storeyed arched has a small marble pavilion with a sun medallion on its ceiling in the upper storey while the lower floor was used as the treasury. It is believed that the Emperor used to sit on the upper floor, on a golden throne, and view his court below.

Diwan-i-Am
Diwan-i-Am, or “Hall of Public Audience” was the place where the Emperor addressed the general public as well as the nobility.  Constructed between 1631 - 40, it is situated close to Machchhi Bhawan.  While the Hall was constructed in red sandstone,  Emperor Shah Jahan had it plastered with white shell plaster to resemble the white marble that he so loved.

Diwan-i-Am is a pillared flat roof assembly hall measuring 201 feet  by 67 feet centred around an alcove for the Emperor's  throne made of marble with delicate inlay work of floral motifs. The throne alcove initially housed the famous Peacock Throne which was moved to the Red Fort in Delhi by Emperor Shah Jahan, and subsequently looted by Nadir Shah and carried away to Persia / Iran.  The most spectacular design element of the hall is the cleverly positioned pillars that give visitors an unhindered view of the throne. Another remarkable feature is the splendid 'Jaalis' (latticed walls) at the back wall of the pavilion - designed to enable the female royalty to also witness the proceedings of court without being seen by the public.

Nagina Masjid
The Nagina Masjid mosque (the “Gem Mosque”) was built by Shah Jahan from 1631-40 for the use of his harem. Given the use by the royal women, and the desire to ensure privacy, the mosque is enclosed by high walls. However, given the use by royalty, its design and decor are surprisingly simple relative to other buildings inside the Agra Fort complex.

Moti Masjid
Moti Masjid, or the “Pearl Mosque” given its pearly white marble interiors, is located north of the Diwan-i-Am complex.  This beautiful mosque, constructed between 1648 - 54, was built at a princely sum during those days of Rs. 3 lakhs (~$ 150,000).  

There were separate prayer chambers for women which were separated from the main prayer hall with beautiful marble lattice screens.  The exteriors of the mosque are made of red sandstone and there is a beautiful marble tank in the courtyard.  There is also an impressive sundial made with an octagonal marble pillar at this mosque.

Zenana Mina Bazaar
Zenana Mina Bazaar, or "Ladies Bazaar"

Naubat Khana
Nuabat Khana, or "Drum House"                             

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[ Edit ] Nearby Attractions

Agra has numerous attractions including a couple of other World Heritage Sites in addition to the Agra Fort:

• Taj Mahal

• Fatehpur Sikri

Most tourists try to combine these three monuments into one visit to Agra.

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[ Edit ] Other Information

Agra Fort

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