Friends, we are once again in India. Not long ago, I wrote about Amber Fort in the city of Jaipur. Today’s article is dedicated to another defensive structure located in Agra. This city is famous for housing the world-renowned Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort: History
The defensive structure was built between 1565 and 1579. At that time, the ruler of the region was Emperor Akbar, and the fort became his residence. The complex is known as Agra Fort, or the Red Fort, with the latter name referring to the color of the citadel's walls, which are made of red sandstone. The building is similar to the fort of the same name in Delhi, though during my trip, it was closed for restoration, so I was unable to explore its grounds.
Under Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal and grandson of Akbar, the fort was reconstructed. The work was done using white marble, Shah Jahan’s favorite material. While the fort originally served a defensive function, it later became a palace complex. Some parts of the 16th-17th century palaces still remain on the grounds. For Shah Jahan himself, the Red Fort became a luxurious prison after his son seized power, and he was imprisoned there.
The central area of the fort housed the Diwan-i-Khas palace. This was once the venue for official receptions, ceremonies, and high-level negotiations. During such events, the ruler sat on a throne adorned with precious stones, including the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond.
The fort is surrounded by walls that rise over 20 meters, with a total length exceeding two kilometers.
Agra Fort: A Walk Through the Grounds
The Red Fort is a complex of several buildings connected by vast courtyards. Under Akbar, there were about 500 structures here. Some were destroyed by Shah Jahan, while others were demolished in the 19th century. Since 1983, the Red Fort complex has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Today, there is only one entrance for tourists, located on the southern side of the complex. In the eastern part of the fort, there is a terrace that offers a great view of the surrounding area and the Taj Mahal.
I walked to the fort from the Taj Mahal, a journey that took about 25 minutes. I can’t say it was an interesting walk, as the view here was quite monotonous. Along the way, I encountered several monkey families.
Near the fort, there is a pavilion for the Agra Fort metro station. If you're coming from other parts of the city, you can take the metro to this station.
I bought tickets on the website of the Ministry of Culture of India, and the cost for one foreign visitor was 550 rupees (summer 2024).
The next notable place I visited was the tomb of Chini-ka-Rauza. I will write about it in future articles.
Have a nice trip!
