Agra Fort, Agra

Emperor Akbar the Great ordered the Agra Fort, also sometimes called Red Fort of Agra. During the reign of Emperor Jahangir, the capital was briefly moved to Lahore, but Agra became the seat of Mughal government again in Akbars reign. In 1556, Akbar became emperor and in 1665, when he properly consolidated himself, he started building Agra Fort. The fort was completed in 1671, but until his grandson's reign, Shah Jahan, minor houses and additions continued to take place. It is important to note that the fort served mainly as a military garrison during Akbar's reign, but it also started to serve as a palace and court for the time of Shah Jahan.

The Fort's enormous double walls rise 20 meters in height and measure 2,5 kilometers in circumference. Agra Fort is surrounded by a moat that is typical of the forts of the Mogul age. Due to its lofty battlements overlooking the far-reaching houses built by nobles and princes along the riverfront, the fort feels intimidating. Another significant and very significant structure is the dominant gateway surrounded by the magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts. The fort includes some of the finest and most gorgeous palaces constructed in red sandstone and white marble by two generations of prolific builders; Akbar and later by Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

Agra Fort is one of Mogul-dominated fusion architecture's finest examples. The assimilation of these different styles gave the fort's structures a distinctive look. For example, to name a few, Akbar's Jahangir Palace is the most magnificent blend of Persian and local style where, like Divan-e-Aam, Turkish exterior subtlety mixes with Persian architecture's complex pattern. Other buildings in the premises of Agra Fort either have a mixed style or predominantly conform to the Islamic style. The Agra Fort includes Jahangir Mahal, Divan-e-Aam, Divan-e-Khash, Khas Mahal, Anguri Bagh, Musamman Burj, Moti Masjid, Mina Masjid, and Shish Mahal among other important constructions.