Agra is not only home to the beautiful Taj Mahal but also to one of the finest Mughal forts in India. When you walk through the courtyards of this majestic fort, your amazement will start growing. The Agra Fort is located just 3 km from the exquisite Taj Mahal.
It was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1573. Initially, the construction started in 1565 on the earlier site of the fort. The additional construction was commissioned by Shah Jahan. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan turned this military structure into a full-fledged beautiful palace. However, after eight years, it became his prison after his son Aurangzeb seized power in 1658.
History Of Agra Fort
Raja Badal Singh was a Rajput king who built the Agra Fort. Over the years, the fort was under the control of several dynasties, such as the Lodhi Dynasty, the Mughal Dynasty, the British Empire, and now Independent India. It was occupied by Babur after winning the battle of Panipat in 1542 AD. When the fort came under the control of Akbar, he restored its glory with the help of 1,444,000 builders for 8 years.
When the fort came under the rule of Shah Jahan, he demolished several buildings and built several palaces and mosques using white marble. You can witness historic sites like Ghaznin Gate, Shah Jahani Mahal, Shish Mahal, and more. Later, Aurangzeb, the son of Shah Jahan, took control of the Fort after winning the battle of Samogarh in 1658. After 200 years, the Fort was seized by the British Empire and given back to free India in 1947.
Agra Fort Architecture
The Agra Fort is made of red sandstone and white marble. You will find several Mughal-style architectures. The fort walls are about 2 km in perimeter and 70 feet in height. There are four gates in the fort – Delhi Gate, Amar Singh Gate, Hathi Pol, and Ghaznin Gate. Out of all, Delhi gate is the largest one and used to be Akbar’s formal gate as well. At present, Amar Singh gate allows visitors entry.
You will witness some architectural wonders that are unexplainable in words. The splendid rooms, mosque, beautiful halls, and gardens made this fort more alluring. Once you enter the fort, you will witness the Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas, royal pavilions that house masjids, royal baths, a mirror palace, and courtrooms. Moreover, the fort used to have more than 5000 structures however, only a few of them are left as a testament to the grandeur of the Mughals.
Structures Inside The Agra Fort
There are several structures built inside the Agra Fort. Here’s what you can expect from each of them:
Jahangir’s Hauz: This place was built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir. It is a monolithic tank used for bathing. At present, it is a part of Akbar’s Bengali Mahal.
Shahjahani Mahal: This particular palace was the first one to be renovated by Emperor Shah Jahan and turned into a white marble structure.
Babur’s Baoli: The baoli is more like a well, built inside the fort as a water resource. This was the very first modification made by Babur after he won the battle of Panipat.
Nagina Masjid: This mosque was built by Shah Jahan as his place of worship.
Diwan-I-Am: This hall was alo bult by Shha Jahan. It was initially made using red sandstone and later turned into white marble one. This is the place from where the rulers used to do justice for their people.
Ghaznin Gate: The gate belongs to the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni. However, it was moved to somewhere else due to some political reasons during the British Empire.
Bengali Mahal: This palace was built by Akbar. It is said that there are several secretive buildings underneath the palace.
Akbar’s Mahal: this palace belongs to Akbar and here he took his last breath. This place is still in red sandstone.
Timings and Tickets
The Agra Fort is open every day except Friday. The ticket pricing is different for all.
For Indians: INR 50
For Foreigner/NRI: INR 650
For SAARC/BIMSTEC: INR 90
There is no entry fee for children below the age of 15.
