Agra Fort

Agra fort with Sandeep

Agra has remained an important business center and capital from ancient time. John Dilayat said that Agra mint had Rs four hundred million. 

Peacock throne

Shahjahan’s Peacock throne cost was sixty million (6 crore). Read more

Agra was founded long before the invasion of Mughals in India. Later with the time Agra lost its glory

First time we hear about this Fort in history was 10^th century AD(1099-1115) when the town was then ruled by Rajput chief Jaipal. The description of this fort is given in a book Qasida, composed in the praise of Ghaznavid prince Mahmud bin Ibrahim. Read more 

Agra was ruled by King Badal Singh so fort was also known as Badal garh (Cloud Fort)  in 1545 century AD. read more ....

Later in 1503,SikandarLodhi, shifted his capital to Agra to keep an eye on Rajput kings. Sikandar lodhi constructed his palace inside the Agra Fort.

First Mughal King Babur in 1526 also used the same Agra Fort.  

But Agra became the grand city in the time of third Mughal King Akbar. Agra Fort was renovated by King Akbar (1565-75). Four thousands active builders worked for eight years to construct this fort. The circumference of the fort is one and half miles. King Akbar lived here with his five thousand concubines. Each Mughal concubine had her apartment and also these concubines were getting paid. There were five hundred buildings in Agra Fort. Now only 27 buildings survive.

Akbar also renovated other palaces and fortress at five different places within fifteen years, Agra, Fatehpursikri, Allahabad, Ajmer and Lahore. Existing palaces in the fort were demolished and new series of buildings, ornamental gardens, pleasure pavilions were erected.

Each wall of Agra Fort is 20 m. high and separated by 12 m deep moat. The outer moat was of full of water and elegaters.

Agra fort is built on irregular semi circular plan. Agra Fort is not a hill fort, it is standing on the plain ground. The base of Agra fort is same as the Puran Qila of Delhi.

AKBARI MAHAL

This palace was situated in the southeast corner of the Agra fort. This is the oldest building of the fort. This building is contemporary of stepped well (Baoli) and the rampart walks.

Near this palace there are series of stepped lavatory. These were used by ladies of Mughal Harem. Behind the lavatory there is a long service lane for cleaning the lavatory.

Step –wells

The step-wells were meant for supply of water and also were used as retreats for the inmates from the heat of summer times. For convenience a stairway leads down to the water level. The diameter of the well is 8 m. and 25 m. in depth. There are six storeys in this well each with a rotating gallery. The first storey also has whispering galleries   and a corridor leading to a site of chambers.

The second and third storeys have two spacious octagonal chambers on the east and west side. These rooms served as cool places of retreat during the hot season.

Jahangiri Palace

This palace was built by Akbar. The outer wall of this palace is distinguished by the ornamental treatment.

On the entrance of this palace we see the six pointed star, lotus buds, geometric designs, and elegant brackets. Six pointed star is also found on the gate of Purana Qila of Delhi.

The outer design of the palace is called Bengali design. The inner walls are beautifully decorated from Gujarati designs. Inner walls are beautifully decorated with Gajalakshmi design an auspicious design for Rajput rulers of India. Brackets are decorated with parrots & peacocks.

Here we can see designs inspired from Guajarati temples like Makra design.

Shah Jahan’s Apartment

Shah jahan first tried to convert the existing red sandstone into white marble makrana. The white marble makrana is called the taste of riches.

It is a large hall and a side room with an octagonal tower overlooking the river.

This hall is also made of Lakhauri bricks and walls are pasted with white stuccoed in fine lime plaster which is colorfully painted with vegetal motifs.

Khas Mahal

This was the sleeping apartment of Shahjahan. It is also called the place of rest (Aram gah) according to bad shah nama.

This palace was gilded in gold. The walls have a number of deep niches which have been decorated with the portraits of Mughal emperors from Timur to Akbar and Jahangir. 

Musamman Burj

According to Badshah nama, shahjahan demolished the previous quarter and raised it for her beloved queen Mumtaz mahal (The lady of Taj).  This is also called jasmine tower because of its exquisite work of marble inlay.

The dome of the Mussaman burj was gilded with gold on copper sheets.

Emperor Shah jahah passed away in this octagonal chamber in 1666 .

Under ground Apartments or Tahkhana

An underground complex of stairways, corridors, tunnels, and chambers exist beneath the palaces all along the riverside.

Akbari Palace was secretly connected with every quarter of the Mugal Harem (seraglio).

Akbar kept his own vigilance through this complex.