Agra Fort description and photos - India: Agra (Topic)

Agra Fort description and photos - India: Agra. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. Title in English - Agra Fort.

Photo and description

An architectural masterpiece, a monument of culture and history - all this is Fort Agra. A unique place, which is located in the ancient city of the same name, Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 25 kilometers north-west of the famous Taj Mahal.

The fort is rather a fortified city than just a citadel. It was built by the Indian ruler Sikarvar Rajputs. And the first mention of this place appears in 1080. At the end of the 13th century, the Delhi sultan Sikander Lodi "moved" to Agra and chose this fort as his place of residence. At that time, Agra became practically the second capital of the sultanate. After the death of Sikander in 1517, his place was taken by his son Ibrahim, who also contributed to the development of the fort - by his order mosques and wells were built in it. But in 1526 Ibrahim was killed in one of the battles in Panipat. It was then that the Mughals finally captured Agra, and at the same time the fort, which contained priceless treasures, including the famous Kohinoor diamond.

In 1558, the Mughal emperor Akbar moved the capital of his kingdom to Agra. He restored the fort, almost completely destroyed during the hostilities. It was then that it acquired its present form - with beautiful buildings, intricate carvings and bright mosaics. The construction was completed in 1573.

Fort Agra is also famous for the fact that Shah Jahan lived out his life in it, and admired his best creation - Taj Mahal from its walls.

The fort has the shape of a semicircle and covers an area of over 91 hectares. There are gates on four sides, and its walls are fortified with military towers. The most significant buildings and places of the fort are: Anguri Bagh - a beautiful garden laid out with geometric precision; Divan-i-Am - a hall of public meetings; Divan-i-Khas - private meeting room; Gold pavilions; Jahangiri Mahal - the palace built by Akbar for his son Jahangir; Mina Masjid - "heavenly" mosque; Musamman Burj is a large tower "looking" at the Taj Mahal and others.

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Topic: Agra Fort description and photos - India: Agra.