Agra Fort

Agra Fort - a huge majestic fort surrounded by a thick wall of red sandstone, so it is also called the Red Fort. The territory can be entered through one of the 2 gates, although there are 4 in total. The rest are walled up.

Like most buildings built in the Rajput architectural style, behind the majestic austerity and outward simplicity of the Agra Fort, luxurious interiors are hidden. Colored or white marble, obligatory carved columns, inlays of precious stones, ivory, gilding and mirrors create a fabulous splendor of the interior decoration and delight many tourists.

The main sights of Agra Fort

The Jahangiri Mahal, Shish Mahal and Divani Khas attract the most attention of tourists.

Jahangiri Mahal was rebuilt by order of Akbar the Great. It is an elegant multi-tiered white-stone palace. The walls in the huge halls are decorated with magnificent bright paintings and delicate openwork carvings. In the courtyard there is a unique stone bowl, completely covered with inscriptions. There are two versions of its purpose: for preparing rose water or a banal bird drinker.

The Shish Mahal Palace of Mirrors is a vast bathing area with a huge tub in the center. Hot and cold water enters the bath. The walls and ceilings of the bath are decorated with mirrors. The entire space is illuminated by the light of the sun penetrating through the gates and vents. Rays reflected a thousand times in mirrors create an atmosphere of mystery and even intimacy.

The hall for public meetings - Divani Khas - was once decorated with precious stones. Now all that remains of them are recesses in the ceilings and walls. The jewels were taken out by the British, and the miserable remnants were barbarously torn out and stolen by the vandals. There is a legend that Shah Jahan, who once built a monument of great love known to the whole world - the beautiful palace-mausoleum Taj Mahal, died in this hall.

A bit of history of the legendary Agra Fort

At the beginning of the 11th century, a small brick fortress was captured by the powerful Ghaznavids, who owned it for more than a hundred years. After their fall, the fortress passed many times from one Indian dynasty to another. After 400 years, Sultan Sikandar Lodi rebuilt the fortress into his residence. In 1505, some of the new buildings were badly damaged by an earthquake. After the death of the Sultan, the Agra fort passed into the possession of his son Ibrahim Shah.

Humayun, heir to the mighty Mughal empire, captured Agra and killed Ibrahim Shah. During the reign of a descendant of Tamerlane, the fortress was fortified, surrounded by a wall in two rows, a ditch 10 meters deep was dug around. A new period of prosperity began in the history of the fortress. In 1556, Akbar the Great moved the capital from Delhi to Agra and named the new capital Akbarabad. Everything has been rebuilt. The new fortress was now called Lal Qila (Red Fort).

The dazzling luxury of decoration was combined with powerful defenses. Inside the fortress walls stood beautiful palaces, majestic mosques, fragrant gardens and austere mausoleums. Terrible tigers walked between the walls, and bloodthirsty crocodiles were launched into the ditch. During the reign of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Empire reached its peak. The fortress has undergone yet another grandiose change. Now her palaces were decorated with rich white marble inlaid with precious stones and gilding.

In 1803, the Agra fort was captured by the British colonizers. They ruthlessly destroyed many buildings in the fortress, and partly gave them to the soldiers' barracks. In 1857, the fort was returned to the Indian authorities.

Today, a military base is located on the territory of the fort. Tourists are allowed access to restricted areas.