Red Fort of Agra — Attraction in Agra

An era marked by invasions and fortifications, where power was symbolized by grand palaces and grander forts………during such time was built THE AGRA FORT. Fortification has always been and still is the prerogative of the mighty; the dividing line between the ruler and the ruled.The mighty towers and overwhelming facades instilling fear and awe in the bravest of the brave…….yet there were the few who overcame the daunting adversities and made their mark in history, a signature ……. that still exists.Structures built as a sign of prowess remind us all of the grit and valour of the brave men and women who captured, destroyed and built such overwhelming edifices.The entry to Agra Fort is allowed through the Amar Singh Gate only. Some portion of this fort is used by the Indian Army. The public access to that part has been prohibited. So you can not see that area. However as this fort is very expansive and contains many buildings that are worth a visit so you can very well check them out. On visiting the Agra Fort, you will come across Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audience. This hall with numerous pillars is said to be erected by Shah Jahan in the year 1628. On heading little forward, you will see Royal Pavilions abounding in elegant mosques including Nagina Masjid and Mina Masjid, palaces like Macchi Bhavan, Khas Mahal, Shish Mahal and Shah Jahani Mahal and the Zenana Mina Bazaar. On a visit to Agra Fort, you will be attracted to the intricate carvings and the pure marbles that are used in its making. Besides, the breathtaking views of the Yamuna River and Taj Mahal from the balconies of the pavilions will leave you absolutely mesmerized. Don't Drone camera is strictly prohibited inside the Taj Mahal. Eating and smoking is strictly prohibited inside Taj Mahal. Arms, ammunitions, fire, smoking items, tobacco products, liquor, eatables (Toffees), head phones, knives, wire, mobile charger, electric goods (except camera), Tripods are also prohibited. Mobile phones are to be kept switched off or on silent mode. Please avoid carrying big bags and books inside the monument, this may increase your security check time. Photography is prohibited inside the main mausoleum. No Polluting vehicles are allowed within 500 mts. Radius of Taj Mahal. Parking Facility is available at Shilpgram Avoid touching & scratching the walls & surfaces of the monument as these are heritage sites and need special care. Visitors are requested not to make noise inside the mausoleum. Above mentioned list of prohibited items along with mobile phones are banned for night viewing of the Taj Mahal. Video camera, extra batteries are prohibited though still camera is permitted after the security check. Do's Tourists must co-operate in keeping the monument neat & clean by using dustbins. Tourists are advised to hire approved guides & photographers who exhibit their identity cards. Taj Museum inside Taj Mahal Complex opens from 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM, entry free. No Polluting vehicles are allowed within 500 mts. radius of Taj Mahal. Parking Facility is available at Shilpgram The Agra Fort (Qila Agra) is a historical fort in the city of Agra, also known as Agra's Red Fort. Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned at this fort in 1530. It was later renovated by the Mughal emperor Akbar from 1565 and the present-day structure was completed in 1573. It served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. It was also known as the "Lal-Qila" or "Qila-i-Akbari".Before being captured by the British, the last Indian rulers to have occupied it were the Marathas. In 1983, the Agra fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance during Mughal rule.[2] It is about 2.5 kilometers (1.6 mi) northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city. It was later renovated by Shah Jahan.Like the rest of Agra, the history of Agra Fort prior to Mahmud of Ghazni's invasion is unclear. However, in the 15th century,...

Visited July 26 2025 – Day 23 in India

After waking up at 4 am to reach the Taj Mahal first thing in the morning, we began this day with peace, beauty, and wonder. We always like to visit the Taj early to avoid the crowds, and once again, this worked out perfectly. Back in 2015, we had done the same, but that time the monument was covered in fog. This time, the skies were clear and the weather was perfect. Seeing the Taj Mahal in the soft morning light felt magical, and starting our day there filled us with calm and appreciation.

Later that morning, after breakfast at our hotel, we made our way to Agra Fort — another deeply meaningful experience, and a very different one from the Taj.

This majestic red sandstone fort is not just a monument. It is a living piece of India’s history. The moment we entered through its massive gates, we felt its strength, its silence, and its stories.

Our guide Bindu, who had been with us since morning, continued to guide us through the fort with the same thoughtfulness and care. Right at the entrance, she pointed out a detail we had never noticed before. The steep, uneven path with sharp turns was deliberately designed to slow down enemies. Above the gate, small openings were built so boiling water or oil could be poured down during attacks. As she explained it, we could picture what life must have been like then — the tension, the strategy, the bravery required to protect the empire.

We walked through wide courtyards and royal audience halls. The architecture was strong yet elegant, with soaring pillars and finely carved arches. Light filtered gently through the jali windows, and the symmetry of the design reminded us of the Taj but with a very different energy — less about love and more about power, defense, and resilience.

The most emotional part of our visit was reaching the Musamman Burj, the marble tower that overlooks the Yamuna River. It was here that Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. We told our daughters, aged 5 and 7, the story again — how the same emperor who built the Taj Mahal out of love spent his final years confined within these walls. They listened quietly, sadness written on their little faces. They still could not understand how a son could do something like that to his father.

We stood at the very spot where Shah Jahan is said to have sat day after day, gazing at the Taj Mahal in the distance. It was visible from there, faint but unmistakable. That image — of a grieving man, longing for his lost love, held captive and staring out at her tomb — stayed with all of us.

What softened that sadness was the story of his daughter Jahanara, who chose to remain with her father through his imprisonment. She gave up her royal privileges and stayed by his side. That bond between father and daughter touched us deeply, and I could see it brought some comfort to my girls. It became a moment not just of sorrow, but of strength and love.

We continued on to the Summer Palace, with its open verandas and cool breezes. The layout was airy and graceful, designed for beauty and comfort even in the heat.

One place we had really wanted to visit was the hamam, the royal bath chamber, but unfortunately it was closed during our visit. We had heard it was inlaid with tiny mirrors that shimmer in the light, and we could imagine how magical it must have felt inside. My daughters were disappointed, but it only gave us another reason to come back one day.

Bindu led us through more arches, balconies, and shaded walkways, each space filled with the echoes of history. Her knowledge and kindness helped bring the past to life.

Agra Fort was not just another site to visit. It was a place that moved us — with its stories of ambition, betrayal, love, and loyalty. Seeing it through the eyes of my daughters made it even more powerful. From the drama of empires to the quiet love between a father and child, the emotions held in these walls still speak.

This visit, just like our morning at the Taj Mahal, is one I will carry in my...

Spread over 94 acres, Agra Fort was originally a brick structure occupied by Rajputs and later the Lodhis, before Emperor Akbar seized it in 1558. What followed was a transformation so grand that the fort earned the title Qila-i-Akbari. He rebuilt it with red sandstone, brought from the nearby Barauli area in Rajasthan. It wasn’t just a military fortification — it became the core of the Mughal administrative empire, and would serve as the capital complex for several decades.

The Amar Singh Gate, through which visitors now enter, was once part of a sophisticated defensive system. In its heyday, the fort had a double moat — the outer filled with water and crocodiles, the inner with tigers. The original entrance was the Delhi Gate, a more ornate, ceremonial gateway now closed to the public, once used exclusively by the emperor and his retinue.

Inside, the fort opens up like a labyrinth of grandeur. Jahangiri Mahal, built by Akbar for his Rajput wives, blends Persian and Hindu architectural styles — with lotus motifs and ornate brackets — showing the emperor’s political and cultural syncretism. It’s also the oldest surviving part of the fort’s current layout.

The Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) stands out with its colonnades and white plaster finish — this is where the emperor addressed the general public, heard petitions, and dispensed justice. Close by is the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), where envoys, ministers, and foreign emissaries were received in a more intimate setting. It is here that the famous Peacock Throne is believed to have once stood before it was moved to Delhi.

Perhaps the most poignant part of Agra Fort is the Musamman Burj, the octagonal marble tower built by Shah Jahan. From here, the emperor — imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb — spent the last eight years of his life, gazing across the Yamuna River at the Taj Mahal, the tomb of his beloved Mumtaz Mahal. The view from this tower, especially at sunset, carries a kind of quiet sorrow that no plaque can fully describe.

Further along, the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) showcases the exquisite pietra dura work that would later define the Taj. In the Khas Mahal, once Shah Jahan’s white marble bedroom chamber, you see remnants of Mughal luxury — scalloped arches, delicate ceilings, and a marble throne platform. There's also the Anguri Bagh (grape garden), a quadrangle garden meant for the imperial harem, with channels for water fountains and a layout designed to offer both privacy and pleasure.

The fort also once housed the Mina Bazaar, a private market for the royal ladies, and extensive bathing chambers, cooled by a clever system of water channels and underground passages. Much of this network is no longer open to the public, but their remains hint at the advanced engineering and planning that went into daily life at the Mughal court.

Today, the ramparts are still formidable. You can walk along the walls and look out at the Yamuna, and if the weather is clear, spot the Taj shimmering in the distance. The fort once had over 500 buildings, but only about two dozen survive — many were destroyed or altered during British occupation in the 19th century, when parts of the fort were converted...