Name: Agra
Rating: 4.6

"An Epitome of the Mughal Dynasty"

Agra Fort, Agra Overview

An architectural masterpiece, The Red Fort of Agra or Agra Fort was built by Emperor Akbar in 1573. It is located on the right bank of the River Yamuna and is made entirely of red sandstone. The historical fort was once the ersthwhile residence of the Mughals until 1638. One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it lies 2.5 kilometres from Taj Mahal.

Also known as Lal –Qila, Fort Rouge or Qila-i-Akbari, Agra Fort is a symbol of Agra and is so massive that it is often referred to as a walled city. It is the perfect example of Mughal art and architecture, built purely out of red sandstone. Within the premises of Agra Fort lie the most exquisite structures like the Pearl Mosque, Diwan-i I Khas, Diwan-i I Aam, Moti Masjid and Jahangiri Mahal. Some part of the Agra Fort is used by the Indian Army is off-limit to public access. View of Yamuna River and Taj Mahal from the fort's pavilions is mind-stirring.

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Taj Mahal Fast Track Entry Ticket

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Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Day Tour from Delhi

12 Hrs 30 Min Duration

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Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Private Half Day Tour

5 Hrs Duration

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Sunrise Tour Of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort from Delhi

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Agra Private Car Charter

4 Hrs - 12 Hrs Duration

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Taj Mahal and Agra Private Day Tour by Express Train from Delhi

1 Day(s) Duration

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Magnificent Structures Inside Agra Fort

1. Jehangir Mahal: One of the first architectures that you will encounter once you enter the Agra Fort through the Amar Singh Gate is the Jehangir Mahal. Jehangir was Akbar's son and the next in line to rule the Mughal empire after his father. The Jehangir Mahal was built by Akbar as a women's quarters and was constructed adjacent to the chambers of his favourite queen Jodha Bai. Simple in its design, the Jehangir Mahal is built in stone and has Persian verses carved out beautifully in a large stone bowl used for storing rose water.
2. Khas Mahal: Another important structure in the Agra Fort is the Khas Mahal, which has some classical Persian and Islamic influences with a touch of Hindu motifs in its construction. It was the emperor's sleeping chambers or 'Araamgah'. Its unique feature is its beautiful paintings on the marble surface.
3. Musamman Burj: Towards the left of the Khas Mahal lies the Musamman Burj, which was also built by Shah Jahan. Octagonal in shape, this tower has an open pavilion which allowed the cool evening breeze to flow right through it. This was the place where Shah Jahan spent his last days whilst he looked out over to to the tomb of his beloved wife, the Taj Mahal.
4. Sheesh Mahal: One of the most exquisite constructions in the Agra Fort, the Sheesh Mahal is a 'harem' or dressing room that employs the most sophisticated water engineering designs. The inside of this construction is beautifully decorated with a mosaic of myriad tiny mirrors, hence giving it its name.
5. Diwan - I- Khaas: To the right of the Sheesh Mahal lies the Diwan - I - Khaas, which was a hall especially for private audiences. It is intricately decorated with marble pillars that are studded with floral patterns of semi - precious stones. Adjacent to this is the Mammam-E-Shahi or the Shah Burj, used as the summer retreat.
6. Diwan - E - Am: This was the hall that was open to the general public. It was here that the very famous Peacock Throne was situated, and the room where the throne once used to be is richly decorated with white marble.
7. Nagina Masjid: This shrine was built by emperor Shah Jahan as a private mosque for the ladies of the court.
8. Moti Masjid: Also known as the Pearl Mosque, it is an extremely beautiful structure situated at Agra Fort. The building of the mosque is closed to visitors as of now. Near the Moti Masjid lies the Mina Masjid, which was the private shrine of Emperor Shah Jahan.

How to Reach Agra Fort

The Agra Fort is located just 2.5 km away from the opulent Taj Mahal hence it is a very good idea to combine these two destinations together. The nearest railway station to the Red Fort of Agra is, of course, Agra Cantonment or Agra Cantt. as it is more commonly known as. If you are a first-time traveller to Agra, get down at the station and make your way to the prepaid booth in order to book a transport - Cab or Rickshaw - at a reasonable price. The taxi fare is usually between INR 200 - 300 as the distance between the station and the fort is around 13 km.

History of Agra Fort

Sikandar Lodi was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra. His son Ibrahim Lodi held the fort which was then known as Badalgarh for nine years until he was defeated in the first battle of Panipat. When Babur sent his son Humayun to Agra, he captured the Badalgarh Fort and seized a vast treasure which included the famous Kohinoor diamond. After Humayun's defeat to Sher Shah Suri, the Mughals lost the fort again. When Akbar arrived in Agra, he realized the importance of the city and made it it's capital. Akbar regained the remains of the Badalgarh Fort and renovated it with red sandstone from Rajasthan. 4000 builders worked on it and it was finally completed in 1573, after a period of 8 years.

Shah Jahan, who was Akbar's grandson destroyed some of the buildings in the fort to make his own in their place, rendering the Agra Fort as it is today. Towards the end of Shah Jahan's life, his son Aurangzeb detained him in the fort's Muasamman Burj, which overlooked the Taj Mahal.

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Top Hotels Near Agra Fort

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Places To Visit In Agra

Taj Mahal

Fatehpur Sikri

Agra Fort

Itimad-ud-daulah's Tomb

Mehtab Bagh

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Agra Fort Reviews

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Sinorita Naskar

2 years ago

Although Agra is famous for the Taj Mahal, but Agra Fort mesmerised me more, not because of the architecture but because of the way our guide explained things that all of what we had read in our history books seemed to come alive! We were shown the Diwan-i-aam, Diwan-i-khaas, the place where Shahjahan was kept captive by Aurangzeb, Shish Mahal, Roshanara Mahal, Jahanara Mahal etc. Despite being summer, the weather was cloudy to our comfort. We spent three hours here, but it seemed to be too less for me! One can try the famous "Agra ka Petha" from the local sweet shops nearby.