It is true that all the attention of the Taj Mahal is to those coming to Agra. However, the second monument most commonly seen is the Agra Fort. It is one of the most elegant pieces of architecture, standing through four generations of the Mughal era. It is one of the first monuments to be declared as heritage sites in India. The Mughals considered the Agra Fort a symbol of their strength and prosperity. If you are visiting the Same day Agra Tour by car, then you should visit Agra Fort. Explore the complete tour guide for Agra Fort.

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Agra Fort Attraction

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Agra Fort can be reached from any part of the city. You can find buses, taxis, rickshaws, and other road transport from Agra Fort to reach any part of the city. Tourists usually visit Agra Fort with the Taj Mahal as it is just 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal.

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The history behind Agra Fort

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The existence of the fort is mentioned in many literature and inscriptions of the 11th century. Thus, the fort is believed to exist before the 11th century. In the 16th century, Emperor Akbar renovated this fort from a brick fort to a sandstone beauty monument. When it was a brick structure under the control of the Rajputs, it was called Badalgarh. During the Mughal period, it received the name of Agra Fort.

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The fort was in ruins when Akbar took over it and he built the fort completely with red sandstone. It took eight years to complete this huge fort. However, his grandson, Shah Jahan deliberately plunged several structures into dust to make room for marble structures. It was considered a massive revenue waste during his reign. Later, his son took over the fort and imprisoned him in the same fort. It is said that Shah Jahan requested to be imprisoned in a minaret inside the fort, from where he could spend his entire life watching the Taj Mahal from the minaret.

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When the fort was under the control of Aurangzeb (son of Shah Jahan), there were not many changes in the structure. A trench was added to the walls to increase defense. After Aurangzeb's death, there were no strong rulers to take control of the Mughal rule. Small states ruled and it was not long before Agra came under the control of the Marathas. In the next century, the fort passed into several dynasties, which did not change the structure of the fort.

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Later, the British took over the fort and used it for military purposes until after independence. He established barracks inside the fort and destroyed many monuments to make room for the army. After independence, the fort came under the control of the Government of India.

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Architectural Beauty of the Agra Fort

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It was one of the early forts of the Mughals and was built mainly for military purposes. This huge fort had 70 feet high walls, which still stand today. These walls were designed for defense purposes. Pedestrians and entrances are specially narrowed so that it becomes difficult to loot enemies into the fort at once.

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The fort also has several tunnels through which the royal family can escape on the banks of the Yamuna River in case of unfortunate incidents. The entrances and passages of the tunnels were passed only to the royal heirs and it is believed that there are many other secret passages in the fort which are yet to be discovered.

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In terms of architecture, it is a fusion of Hindu and Islamic style architecture. There are also theories about the Agra Fort which is inspired by the grand Gwalior Fort. Each structure inside the fort has a unique style. You can see Gujarati structures, Bengali-style monuments, etc.

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What to see inside the Agra Fort

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1.  Jahangir’s Palace

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It is one of the most notable structures and oldest palace in the fort. This fort was used by the royal women and has many delicate carvings and architectural elements.

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2. Khas Mahal

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It is the palace of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah Jahan. The structure is built in a fusion of Persian and Islamic architecture. The interior walls are decorated with gold, gems, and precious stones. The palace is built of stone and carved to create floral designs. Other notable architectural elements are latticework, fountains, roof art, and others.

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3. Musamman Burj

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It is also called an octagonal tower. This is the place where Shah Jahan imprisoned his son. As mentioned earlier, from this tower, you can get a vulgar view of the Taj Mahal, if you are going on a clear day. The tower is decorated with simple yet elegant inlay work.

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4. Diwan-i-Khas

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This is the place where the rulers used to meet private audiences. This hall was built by Akbar and it was rebuilt by Shah Jahan. Thus, you can find many marble carvings, floral motifs, and Persian-style decorative works. The hall bears the famous peacock throne, which was later looted from India in the 18th century.

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5. Sheesh Mahal

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This Darpan Mahal is built entirely with reflective surfaces. The palace has intricate mirror work, attractive carvings, and serene beauty.

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6. Shahjahani Mahal

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It is a fusion of marble and sandstone. It is the first monument made of sandstone that Shah Jahan tried to reconstruct with marble.

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7. Jahangir’s chain of Justice

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It is a large chain made of gold. Any citizen who believed that injustice occurs in the regime would shake the chain and produce a huge sound with 60 bells attached to it. This is a grievance redressal system under Jahangir's reign.

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Visiting time

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The fort is open from sunrise to sunset. The best time to visit the fort is to see the effect of sunrise on the fort during morning or sunset. The best season to visit the fort is in winter or early summer.

It is best to travel between October and April. The climate will be pleasing and the sky clear for convenient sightseeing. Most people choose to visit Agra Fort in the evening and stay back for a sound and light show. Also, read some more information about the best time to visit Same day Agra Tour by Train.

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Entry to the Agra Fort

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There are four entrances to four of these and two of these walls are closed. Among the rest, only the southern gate is open to tourists. The North Gate is under the control of the Indian Army and is not open to the public. The southern gate is called the Amar Singh Gate. During the reign of Akbar, the gate of this fort was called Akbar Darwaza as it was used by Akbar for all his entrances.