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Every year, lakhs of tourists visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, but very few know about this architectural masterpiece just three kilometres away. The Agra Fort shares the title of “Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site” with the Taj Mahal owing to its composition, history, and Mughal significance. Diving deep into its glory and history, we discuss its architecture and why it was included on the list of World Heritage Sites.
History
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Agar Fort, commonly known as Red Fort of Agra, was inscribed in 1983 during the 7th session. The historic fortress was constructed by the third Mughal emperor, Akbar, on the remains of an ancient site known as Badalgarh. The fort served as a residence for the Mughal Dynasty, and it was ruled and captured by various emperors.
The Rulers
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Sikandar Lodi was the first Sultan of Delhi to shift his capital from Delhi to Agra. After he died in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi held the fort for 9 years until he was defeated and killed in the battle of Panipat in 1526. In this tenure, several palaces, wells and a mosque were built in the fort during the Lodi period.
After the Lodi period, Humayun, the son of Babur, captured the fort and seized a vast treasure, which included the world-famous ‘Koh-i-noor’ diamond as well. Babur built a baoli (step-wall) here. Humayun was coronated here in 1530. After Humayun’s defeat at Bilgram in 1540, Sher Shah of the Sur dynasty occupied Agra fort and garrisoned it.
The fort was ruled by the Sur dynasty until Akbar arrived in Agra in 1558. He ordered to renovate the fort with red sandstone which is one of the main attractions of the fort today. Some 4000 builders daily worked on it and it was completed in 8 years from 1565 to 1573.
Architecture
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Agra Fort is located on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. It is a historical fort but many refer to it as a walled city because of the expanse of the fort. The fort sits on a 94-acre land area that features a semi-circular plan. The fort lies parallel to the Yamuna River and also has walls that reach up to 70 feet high. There are four sides to this fort, and each has its corresponding gates. Two of the fort gates are called “Lahore Gate” and “Delhi Gate”.
The Delhi Gate is considered monumental and one of the grandest of the four gates. It was built in 1568 to boost the fort's security and serve as the emperor’s formal gate. The entrance features white marble embellishments and a wooden drawbridge that crosses the moat and connects the gate to the mainland.
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To this day, the northern portion of the Agra Fort is still being used by the Indian military. For this reason, the Delhi Gate is intended for official use only and is not open to the public. Tourists who want to visit the Agra Fort are allowed to enter through the Amar Singh Gate.
Another gate is the “Khizri Gate” (the water gate), which opens to the riverfront, where ghats (quays) are provided.
The fort is one of the most visited monuments in Agra, displaying the robustly built strongholds of the Mughals, embellished with a number of richly decorated buildings encompassing the imposing Mughal style of art and architecture.