Agra fort
While the initial fortification and palace was constructed on this site during the brief Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526) the sprawling and photogenic fortress visitors flock to today was constructed by the Moghul Emperor Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar between 1558 and 1573. Akbar’s grandson, Emperor Shah Jahan—of Taj Mahal fame—would be imprisoned by his son within Agra Fort until his death in 1666. The fortress was captured by the Maratha Empire in the 18th Century and changed hands several times before being taken by the British in 1803. Agra Fort played a central role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 which led to the end of British East India Company rule and the beginning of direct rule over India by Britain. Agra Fort served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for most of its existence, as evidenced by the expansive palace complex within.
The main gate to Agra Fort can only be accessed by crossing the deep moat. The facade of this fortress is, if nothing else, imposing!
The second gate of Agra Fort highlights its Mughal heritage. The bricked-in gateway portion pictured here hints at the original size of this already massive portal, built to facilitate the entrance of war elephants.
My favorite feature of Agra Fort is situated between the second and third gates. The spouts protruding from high on the walls here allowed oil to be poured on attackers. The decline facilitated the employment of burning objects being rolled down upon them, leaving nowhere to run.
Massive entrance to the Jahangiri Mahal.
Lying between the second and third gates is the impressive Jahangiri Mahal, a separate palace accommodating the women of the court, built originally for Mughal Emperor Akbar’s non-Muslim wives.
Ever wondered what the inside of a Mughal harem looked like? These pics depict the inner sanctum of the Jahangiri Mahal. The water draining into the reservoir here was runoff from that flushed between the walls of the main building, keeping the rooms cool during the summer.
The inner courtyards of the palace are expansive and quartered in the Persian style. This is the Garden of Grapes and was once filled with grapevines and flowering plants.
Inside the palace area, red stone gives way to marble, gold, and semi-precious stones…everywhere! This is the Roshanara Pavilion, constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan for his third daughter, the Princess Roshanara Begum.
The Roshanara Pavilion offers an incredible view of the Taj Mahal, the loving memorial built for her mother, Mumtaz Mahal.
Inside the Khas Mahal, or private palace, the marble work, highlighted by inlaid semi-precious stones created an opulent escape from the realities of ruling an empire for multiple Mughal emperors. Shah Jahan reportedly spent much of his time while under house arrest here.
Looking out over the Khas Mahal toward the Taj Mahal.
This is where the Mughal emperor met his subjects.
The audience hall is quite large and constructed in the beautiful Persian style with repeating, identical arches carried throughout.
The audience hall from a distance.
Apologies for the blurred faces, but Agra Fort is a very popular tourist destination and it was difficult at times to get good photos without some collateral photo-bombing. This was the best I could find from inside the Amar Singh Gate, an area reserved for use only by the Mughal emperor.
An incredible destination in and of itself, Agra Fort’s close proximity to the Taj Mahal makes it a no-brainer for anyone visiting the historic city of Agra!