Agra Fort from Outside
Courtyard in Agra Fort
Jahangiri Palace Built by Akbar For His Son Jahangir
Wonderful Moti Mahal entirely Made Up Marble 
Beautiful Columns Featuring Birds in Agra Fort 
Khas Mahal - A Special Palace Built By Shah Jahan
Beautiful View of Agra Fort from Yamuna River
Beautiful Carving inside Musamman Burj Where Shah Jahan was Held Captive
Balcony of Agra Fort - A Royal Palace
Octagonal Tower in Musamman Burj from Where Shah Jahan used to See Taj Mahal 
Diwan-e-Aam - A Hall for Public Audience
Lahore Gate Also Known As Amar Singh Gate
Agra Fort has now been declared as world Heritage site by UNESCO. Agra Fort has been the witness of Indian History. Its presence proves the grand status of Agra in the history of India. It is about 2.5 km northwest of the most famous building, the Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort was provided with four gates. One of them is Khizri gate which opens on to the river. Two others are Delhi Gate and Lahore Gate. Delhi Gate was the formal gate for king but now northern portion of Agra Fort is being used by Indian Military that’s why this gate cannot be used by Public. Tourists can enter via the Lahore Gate; this gate is named so because it faces Lahore which is now in Pakistan, it is also known as Amar Singh Gate in the name of Amar Singh Rathore. Delhi Gate is considered as the grandest gate of all. It is followed by an inner gate named Hathi Pol (Elephant Gate) because two life sized stone elephants are standing with their riders.
Important Structures in Agra Fort
Anguri Bagh – these are 85 square geometrically arranged gardens.
Diwan-e-Aam – this is a hall of public audience where ruler used to address the mass sitting on the Peacock Throne as well as justice used to be done.
Diwan-e-Khas – this is a hall of private audience where king used to greet some dignitary or honorable guests.
Golden Pavilions – these are beautiful pavilions with the roofs shaped like roofs of Bengali huts.
Jahangiri Mahal – this was built by Akbar for his son Jahangir
Khas Mahal – this is one of the best examples of painting on white marble.
Macchi Bhawan – this used to be the grand enclosure of harem functions has design of fish, had pools and fountains.
Musamman Burj – this is a large octagonal tower. A clear view of Taj Mahal can be had from here. It is said that Shah Jahan used to see Taj Mahal from here and here only he breathed last.
Mina Masjid – this is a heavenly mosque which was entirely built by white marble by Shah Jahan for his personal use.
Pearl Mosque – also known as Moti Masjid was built by Shah Jahan.
Nagina Masjid – it is also known as the Gem Mosque or the Jewel Mosque. It was built by Shah Jahan for the ladies of royal family.
Zenana Mina Bazar – this is right next to the balcony of Nagina Masjid A luxurious bazaar, known as Mina Bazar, used to be functioning down the road from where royal ladies could purchase items standing in the balcony of Nagina Masjid and only female merchants used to sold wares.
Naubat Khana (Drum House) – this is the place where king's musicians used to play music.
Rang Mahal – this is place where king’s wives and mistresses lived
Shah Jahani Mahal – this is the place where Shah Jahan’s first attempt for modification of red sandstone palace took place.
Sheesh Mahal (Glass Palace) – this used to be the royal dressing room featuring tiny mirror-like glass-mosaic decorations on the walls.
History
Its foundation was laid by Chauhan Rajputs in the name of ‘Badalgarh’ in Agra, which is now known as Agra Fort as well as Lal Quila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. Sikandar Lodi was the first Sultan who shifted its capital from Delhi to Agra in 1501. He ruled over the country from Agra and after his death in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi ruled for 9 years. He was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526 and then Agra Fort was introduced with Mughals.
Mughals captured all the treasure including a valuable diamond which was later named Koh-i-Noor diamond. Babur Stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim Lodi. His son Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Sher Shah held it for 5 years after defeating Humayun in Bilgram in 1530. Eventually, Mughals got it again by defeating Afghans at Panipat in 1556. This brick fort named ‘Badalgarh’ was in ruined condition when Akbar decided to shift his Capital from Delhi to Agra. He rebuilt it with red sandstone. Almost 1,444,000 builders worked on it for eight years and it was completed in 1573. Akbar built a palace in it for his son Jahangir.
Agra Fort has seen many changes during its life span and it took its current shape in the time of Jahangir’s son Shah Jahan, who was the most favorite of Akbar’s grandsons. Shah Jahan used white marble in spite of red sand stone first time in Mughal history. He also demolished some of the buildings in fort. It is said that earlier it had 500 different buildings out of which two dozen are left. Some were destroyed by Shah Jahan to construct new one and some were destroyed during British rule to raise barracks.
Timings - Open from Dawn to Dusk
Agra Fort was provided with four gates. One of them is Khizri gate which opens on to the river. Two others are Delhi Gate and Lahore Gate. Delhi Gate was the formal gate for king but now northern portion of Agra Fort is being used by Indian Military that’s why this gate cannot be used by Public. Tourists can enter via the Lahore Gate; this gate is named so because it faces Lahore which is now in Pakistan, it is also known as Amar Singh Gate in the name of Amar Singh Rathore. Delhi Gate is considered as the grandest gate of all. It is followed by an inner gate named Hathi Pol (Elephant Gate) because two life sized stone elephants are standing with their riders.
Important Structures in Agra Fort
Anguri Bagh – these are 85 square geometrically arranged gardens.
Diwan-e-Aam – this is a hall of public audience where ruler used to address the mass sitting on the Peacock Throne as well as justice used to be done.
Diwan-e-Khas – this is a hall of private audience where king used to greet some dignitary or honorable guests.
Golden Pavilions – these are beautiful pavilions with the roofs shaped like roofs of Bengali huts.
Jahangiri Mahal – this was built by Akbar for his son Jahangir
Khas Mahal – this is one of the best examples of painting on white marble.
Macchi Bhawan – this used to be the grand enclosure of harem functions has design of fish, had pools and fountains.
Musamman Burj – this is a large octagonal tower. A clear view of Taj Mahal can be had from here. It is said that Shah Jahan used to see Taj Mahal from here and here only he breathed last.
Mina Masjid – this is a heavenly mosque which was entirely built by white marble by Shah Jahan for his personal use.
Pearl Mosque – also known as Moti Masjid was built by Shah Jahan.
Nagina Masjid – it is also known as the Gem Mosque or the Jewel Mosque. It was built by Shah Jahan for the ladies of royal family.
Zenana Mina Bazar – this is right next to the balcony of Nagina Masjid A luxurious bazaar, known as Mina Bazar, used to be functioning down the road from where royal ladies could purchase items standing in the balcony of Nagina Masjid and only female merchants used to sold wares.
Naubat Khana (Drum House) – this is the place where king's musicians used to play music.
Rang Mahal – this is place where king’s wives and mistresses lived
Shah Jahani Mahal – this is the place where Shah Jahan’s first attempt for modification of red sandstone palace took place.
Sheesh Mahal (Glass Palace) – this used to be the royal dressing room featuring tiny mirror-like glass-mosaic decorations on the walls.
History
Its foundation was laid by Chauhan Rajputs in the name of ‘Badalgarh’ in Agra, which is now known as Agra Fort as well as Lal Quila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. Sikandar Lodi was the first Sultan who shifted its capital from Delhi to Agra in 1501. He ruled over the country from Agra and after his death in 1517, his son Ibrahim Lodi ruled for 9 years. He was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526 and then Agra Fort was introduced with Mughals.
Mughals captured all the treasure including a valuable diamond which was later named Koh-i-Noor diamond. Babur Stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim Lodi. His son Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Sher Shah held it for 5 years after defeating Humayun in Bilgram in 1530. Eventually, Mughals got it again by defeating Afghans at Panipat in 1556. This brick fort named ‘Badalgarh’ was in ruined condition when Akbar decided to shift his Capital from Delhi to Agra. He rebuilt it with red sandstone. Almost 1,444,000 builders worked on it for eight years and it was completed in 1573. Akbar built a palace in it for his son Jahangir.
Agra Fort has seen many changes during its life span and it took its current shape in the time of Jahangir’s son Shah Jahan, who was the most favorite of Akbar’s grandsons. Shah Jahan used white marble in spite of red sand stone first time in Mughal history. He also demolished some of the buildings in fort. It is said that earlier it had 500 different buildings out of which two dozen are left. Some were destroyed by Shah Jahan to construct new one and some were destroyed during British rule to raise barracks.
Timings - Open from Dawn to Dusk
Entrance Fee
For Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) it is Rs.10/- per head.
For Others: It is US $ 5 or Indian Rs. 250/- per head (ASI)
Note - It is free for Children up to 15 years.
For Others: It is US $ 5 or Indian Rs. 250/- per head (ASI)
Note - It is free for Children up to 15 years.
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