Agra Fort - The Abode of Mughal Royalty

Agra Fort Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort, built by the successive contribution of three Mughal generations – Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jehan – still fascinates the entire world with its majestic glory. The fort stared its journey in the days of Akbar under the supervision of Mohammed Quasim Khan, his commander-in-chief. Originally planned to build an invincible military structure by Akbar, the Agra Fort gained its elegance, lavishness and royalty of a palace at the time of Emperor Shah Jehan.

Splendrous Mughal Architecture

The remarkable architecture and the majestic fort complex stores the innumerable essence of the Mughal Emperors and you may fee like riding in the time machine. More like a city inside, the fort was built to fulfill the military purpose which spreads on the banks of Yamuna enclosing a humongous area of 3 km radius. Surrounded by a 70 foot high wall the fort houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangiri Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. The fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sand stone. Many buildings were constructed within the fort of which very few remain till date. One of the most significant ones is the multi- storeyed Jahangiri Mahal built by Akbar for his wife Jodha Bai. The Mahal is reached through an impressive gateway and its inner courtyard consists of beautiful halls, profusse carvings on stone, exquisitely carved heavy brackets, piers and cross beams. Most of the panels in the eastern hall are decorated with the Persian styled stucco paintings in gold and blue.

It is believed that a century later, most of the structures were dismantled by Shahjahan and were replaced with white marble pavilions covered with intricate inlay work. Of which the most prominent ones are - the Diwan- i-khas, the Mausam Burj and the Shaha Burj. Away from the waterfront he built the Moti Masjid and the Diwan-i-Aam. If you check carefully you can find the dimples on the walls that were embellished with precious stones which could not survive in the ravages of time. Touch them and you will have a spine chilling experience. This is the place where Emperor Shah Jehan spent last days of his life after he had been imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, seeing Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love where the heart-broken Shahjahan was subsequently buried and re-united finally with his beloved Mumtaz.

Tourist Information

Open on all weekdays from sunrise to sunset, the fort offers free visit on Fridays. Ample space of parking available just outside the fort makes it easily accessible by both cars and heavy vehicles. The best time to visit the fort is from November to February. The Son-et-lumiere show is performed at 7.30 pm in English and at 8.30 pm in Hindi on every weekday evenings.

Access

Agra is well connected to Delhi by Indian Airlines and other private airways operating flights on regular basis. One can also opt for train journey by the Shatabdi Express and the Taj Express running daily from Delhi Nizamuddin Station. Agra is only 204 km from Delhi and the excellent national highway caters smooth and luxurious journey by air-conditioned and deluxe coaches to Agra.

Where to Stay

Agra has a wide range of hotels and rest houses. UPSTDC`s tourist complex, Taj Khema near the Taj Mahal offers excellent sojourn in the deluxe rooms. There is a UPSTDC Tourist Bungalow as well. A number of 5 star deluxe hotels make accommodation facility in Agra comfortable.

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