The Red Fort of Agra is the most important fortress of the mughal empire. Its walls hide whispers of the past and memories of the many battles that took place for the struggle for its possession. It was also the place where the emperor Shah Jahan died contemplating the mausoleum he built for his beloved Mumtaz Mahal.
History of Agra Fort
The Fort of Agra also known as the Red Fort, Lal Qila (in Hindi) or Qila-e-Akbari, was built by Akbar, the third Mughal emperor of India in 1565. He was erected on the banks of the Yamuna River on the ruins of the ancient Badalgarh Fort. of the Rajput kings and its construction took eight years.
Its wall is 20m high and 2.5m wide and it is located just 3km from the Taj Mahal. The Fort has four gates, the main ones being the Delhi Gate, exclusively for the entry of Emperor Akbar, and the Lahore Gate, which is the only entrance gate to the Fort today.
Years later his grandson Shah Jahan added palatial white marble buildings. The Red Fort was the official residence of the Mughal emperor and his entourage until the capital of the empire was moved to Shahjahanabad. or what we know today as Old Delhi.
The buildings inside the fortress
Diwan-i-Am: room from where Shah Jahan was addressing the people
Diwan-i-KhasThe private audience room is used for the most important assemblies and meetings.
Nagina Masjid: the camera for real women.
Shish Mahal or Crystal PalaceThe house consists of several rooms decorated with mirrors brought from Syria.
Khas Mahal: the private palace of Emperor Shah Jahan. It is one of the most ornate buildings with beautiful ceiling decorations.
Mausamman Burj: is a white marble tower with spectacular views of the Yamuna River and the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan was confined here during the last eight years of his life until he died in 1666, in his last days he was provided with a mirror so that he could see the Taj Mahal without getting up from his bed due to his weakened state of health.
Anguri Bagh or the Grape Gardena beautiful garden in which at some point in history there was a vineyard plantation.
Although there is no certainty about it, it seems that the Agra Fort has subway tunnels and secret passages.
The evolution of the Fort
Many rulers of different dynasties passed through the Agra Fort and it was always in the crosshairs of invaders. Each of the rulers made structural changes to the Fort to suit their needs and mark their possession.
It was the palace and governmental structure for the Mughal emperors Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.. In addition, after Shah Jahan's death, the Agra Fort was usurped by the Maratha rulers, who later lost it to the British Raj.
The Red Fort of Agra was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Visit Agra Fort
You can visit the complex and most of the buildings inside and take pictures.
When to visit Agra Fort
It can be visited at any time of the year, although you should know that in the months of May to June the temperature in Agra is extremely high and this can make your visits uncomfortable.
Regarding the time of day, any time is good, but if you want to avoid large crowds of visitors, it is better to visit early in the morning.
Whenever possible, avoid visiting on Sundays and holidays as the number of visitors is much higher.
How to get to Agra Fort
To arrive by train: the nearest station is Agra Fort Railway Station. and is located at a distance of 2 km. The main train station in Agra, Agra Cantonment, is 5km from the Red Port. In both cases the most practical way is to take a tuk tuk or cab from there.
Another option is to take a cab or tuk tuk directly with the Ola Cabs App from your location.
Practical information about the Red Fort of Agra
Schedule: from dawn to dusk every day.
Price: 650INR for foreigners and 50INR for Indian nationals.
Camera & video: you must pay a supplement of 25 INR.
Food & beverages: food is not allowed but you can bring your own water bottle.
Prohibited: tripods and drones are not allowed in the complex.
What to bring: comfortable clothes and shoes, a hat to protect you from the sun, and don't forget your camera or cell phone!
Guided tour: guides are always available at the entrance and for a small fee you can learn more about the history of the place.
Tips: Given the history of this place, I recommend that you take the tour with a guide to soak up the history and make the most of the visit. And don't forget to enjoy the views of the Taj Mahal from the Fort.
If you have to choose between visiting the Red Fort of Agra and the Red Fort of Delhi, it is better to discover the one in Agra. The Lal Qila of Agra was the most important fortress of the Mughal Empire, has more sections open to the public and also gives you a view of the Taj Mahal unsurpassed.
I trust that this article about Agra Fort be useful for you and enjoy your visit to the fullest 🙂
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