Agra Fort 🇮🇳

Agra Fort, also known as Qila Agra or the Red Fort of Agra, is a historic Mughal fortification located in Agra, India, approximately 2.5 kilometers northwest of the Taj Mahal. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, this expansive walled complex covers roughly 94 acres along the Yamuna River. Enclosed by 70-foot-high ramparts, the fort functioned as a self-contained palatial city and served as the primary residence of Mughal emperors until the imperial capital was transferred to Delhi.

The site originally existed as a brick fortress known as Badalgarh under Rajput rule before serving as a Lodi capital. Following the victory of the Mughals in 1526, Babur resided within the fort, and Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Emperor Akbar later made Agra his capital and systematically rebuilt the structure between 1565 and 1573, casing its brick core with red sandstone sourced from Rajasthan. Subsequent emperors further modified the complex, most notably Shah Jahan, who added white marble structures. Control later shifted through Jat and Maratha rulers before the British East India Company took possession in 1803.

Constructed with a semicircular layout, the fort is encircled by double walls featuring massive circular bastions. Public entry is handled through the Amar Singh Gate, as the grand western Delhi Gate—celebrated for its intricate marble inlay and defensive Hathi Pol entrance—is situated in a northern zone utilized by the Indian military. Although many interior buildings were dismantled during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, approximately thirty historic Mughal structures remain preserved along the southeastern riverfront.

Among the landmark structures is the Muthamman Burj, an octagonal white marble tower situated above the river bastion. Offering sweeping views of the Taj Mahal, this palace served as the location where Shah Jahan was confined during his final years. Adjacent highlights include the Shish Mahal, a summer bathing hall decorated with imported Syrian glass mosaics, and the red sandstone Jahangiri Mahal. Visitors can also view Jahangir's Hauz, a monolithic stone bathing basin carved in 1611, the transitional Shah Jahani Mahal, and the Ghaznin Gate, a carved deodar wood gate installed inside the fort during the nineteenth century.