Last year when my uncle  n aunty from Kolkata came to visit us during “Durga Puja”  …. we went to Agra to see TajMahal n Agra Fort. We didn’t know that on friday Tajmahal remain close – so couldn’t see that but went to Fatehpur Sikhri and visited few temple in Vridaban.

Many pillared “Diwan-i-am” (Hall of Public Audience). It was built by Shah Jahan in 1628.

So here’s few things about Agra Fort’s history : Agra Fort also known as Red Fort of Agra. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in 1983. It was origanally built with brick and was known as “Badalgarh” – it was then held by the Chauhan Rajputs. It was first mentioned when the Ghaznavide force captured it.

Sikandar Lodhi (was then the Sultan of Delhi) was the first ruler to shift to Agra from Delhi – he lived and ruled the country from here. His son Ibrahim Lodi held the fort for 9 years till he was defeated by the Mugals at the first Panipat war in 1526. The mugals (Babur – to be specific) captured the fort and its treasure including the famous “Koh-i-Noor”  diamond. Humayun (Babur’s son) was crowned here in 1530 – but was later defeated by Sher Shah. In 1556 … the 2nd Panipat war was fought and Sher Shah was defeated – the fort was again captured by the Mugals.

Akbar made it his capital and rebuilt it with red sandstone, so it was built with bricks in the inner core and with sandstone on the external surfaces. This could be best seen in the pic. below.

On ground floor behind those red sandstone arch … those rooms were built by bricks. It was the original “Badalgarh”. In Akbar’s region – he rebuilt arch and pillars with red sandstones. In Shah Jahan’s region – he built the above hall in marble. Three very different phase of changes that the Agra Fort had gone through.

This is Musamman Burj …. Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in this place. From here he could see the Taj Mahal where his wife (Mumtaz mahal) was buried. Shah Jahan spent last 7 years of his life here.

Marble window … one of the finest work of Mugals time – n off course one of my favorite too.

Two different capillary like pattern on red sandstone …. these could be seen all over the fort which is built in red sandstone – i.e. at Akbar’s region.

These were the marble pillar of “Diwan-i-am” .

We were told by the tourist guide ….  that emperor Akbar used to bath in this huge cup-like bath tub.

This is one of the gate of Agra fort …. mainly after seen the whole place people come out of this gate.