Built along the banks of Yamuna and just a few kilometres away from the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort resembles the Red Fort in Delhi. This fortress has also been declared as a world heritage by UNESCO. Most of us are aware of the Lal Qila in Delhi, now let’s read about this fort located in Agra.
History of the Agra Fort
The fort was built in the sixteenth century and is much older than the famous Red Fort. It was built using red sandstone. This magnificent fortress encompasses an entire city filled with luxurious palaces, mosques, gardens, and much more. All of this is secured within a two and a half km long massive boundary.
A total of 3,80,000 square meters of the area is what the entire fortress occupies. Standing strong to date, the Agra Fort is an excellent example of the architecture style and design prevalent in the Mughal era. This extravagant construction has been home to the imperial family of Mughals till 1638 when the fifth emperor Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital to Delhi.
The fort holds significance in Indian history as it was captured by many rulers. Originally owned by Ibrahim Lodi, the fort was then conquered by Babur followed by Humayun. Soon, Sher Shah Suri took control, and the Suri dynasty occupied the structure for more than a decade, till Humayun won it back again in 1555. The last rulers of the Fort were the Marathas and then it was taken over by the British like most other forts.
The beautification of the Agra Fort started in 1565 when the place was under emperor Akbar’s rule. The base structure was built by Akbar and later his grandson Shah Jahan expanded it into a paradise, with most structures built in pure white marble.
It took eight long years and the effort of four thousand workers to create this architectural wonder. While the interiors are the completely brick structure, the outer surface has been beautifully decorated using the red coloured sandstone.
Features of the Agra Fort
There are multiple features of the Agra Fort that show the creativity and intelligence of the engineers in those times. The whole fort has a crescent shape with slight flattening on the eastern side. It is similar to the crescent-shaped moon that is a significant part of the Islamic culture.
Sheesh Mahal
The most attractive part of the Agra Fort is the Sheesh Mahal. It is a display of excellent design that the Mughals brought with them. Also known as the Glass Palace, the walls and ceiling are covered in mirrors. The moment it is illuminated the entire space is filled with a sparkling effect, a view worth seeing. To keep the palace cool during the hot summers, the walls have been made extra thick. Such intelligent design is proof of the talent architects had back then.
The Peacock Throne
Another creation in the times of Shah Jahan, the Peacock Throne is a famous throne used by the emperor of the Mughal dynasty. This gorgeous jewel-studded throne was placed in the Diwan-I-Aam of the Agra Fort and later taken to the Diwan-I-Khas of the Red Fort. Unfortunately, the precious jewels were robbed off in 1739 by the invader Nader Shah.
Moti Masjid
The Pearl Mosque or Moti Masjid is yet another grand structure built by Shah Jahan. The mosque came to be known by this name due to its lustre that made it look like a pearl. This mosque was used by the emperor and special members of his court only.
Mina Masjid
A smaller mosque located next to the Moti Masjid. This was built for the private use of the emperor Shah Jahan and no other person was allowed inside.
Nagina Masjid
This is also an interesting structure and is popular by the name of Jewel mosque or Gem Mosque. Standing nearby Moti masjid, the Nagina Masjid is also made in gorgeous white marble and has a decent decor. This mosque was for the use of the royal ladies. The balcony faced the Mina Bazar from where the ladies could purchase extravagant items of their choice.
The Agra fort houses some of the most excellent creations of the Mughal Dynasty under Shah Jahan. While the Taj Mahal steals the show in Agra, this fortress is also worth a visit if you want to experience some architectural wonders.