The Great Fort of Agra: Built by three of
the most magnificent Mughal emperors,
the Agra Fort is a fitting
monument to the creative and artistic genius of the times. The fort
was built primarily as a military structure but during Shajahan’s
reign it was upgraded to a palace and finally became a prison (
albeit a gilded one ) for shahjahan after Aurangzeb seized power in
1658. Girdled by massive double walls and pierced by tour towering
gateways the fort is a complex of palaces, courts, mosques, baths,
gardens and pleasure pavilions spanning three regions.
The red sandstone Jehangir Mahal built by Akbar for his Hindu queen
Jodhabai mother of Jehangir; the great public and private halls of
audience the Khas Mahal and the Palace of Mirrors the pure white
pearl Mosque and the jewel-like Nagina Masjid; the Garden of Grapes
and the Fish Pavilion or Water Garden all add to its beauty. Within
the fort are a number of exquisite buildings including the Moti
Masjid Diwane-i-Am, Diwane-i-Khas and Musamman Burj. Tragically,
Shajahan spent the last years of his life here as a prisoner of his
own son, gazing across the river at his noblest creation, the Taj
Mahal as he lay dying. Jahangir’s palace Khaas Mahal and the Sheesh
Mahal are the other important monuments inside the fort.
The Amar Singh Gate to the south is the sole entry point to the fort
and is open from sunrise to sunset daily (free admission only on
Friday).
