Agra Fort is a 16th-century fortress in Agra, India, established by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Serving as both a military base and royal residence, it was the seat of government when Agra was the Mughal capital. The fort, reflecting Mughal architectural grandeur, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Constructed on the Yamuna River's right bank, the crescent-shaped structure has 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of walls. The fort has two access points: the Amar Singh Gate and the Delhi Gate. Within are palaces and mosques built by Shah Jahān and Jahāngīr. Key attractions include Jahāngīr’s Palace, the Pearl Mosque, the Hall of Private Audience, and the Palace of Mirrors.

Where is Agra Fort located?

Agra Fort, a large 16th-century fortress made of red sandstone, is located on the Yamuna River in the historic city of Agra , in west-central Uttar Pradesh, north-central India. The Taj Mahal is about 1 mile (1.6 km) away. Akbar, a Mughal emperor, established the fort, which functioned as both a military base and a royal residence. It served as the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra. The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Who built Agra Fort and when was it built?

Agra Fort, a large 16th-century fortress of red sandstone on the Yamuna River in Agra, India, was established by the Mughal emperor Akbar . It served as a military base and royal residence, representing the architectural grandeur of the Mughal reign. Construction of the fort, situated on the site of earlier fortifications, was commissioned by Akbar in 1565 and reportedly took eight years, i.e. up to 1573, to construct. The walls of the crescent-shaped structure have a circumference of about 1.5 miles (2.5 km), rising 70 feet (21 metres) high, and are surrounded by a moat. Many structures within the walls were added later by subsequent Mughal emperors, notably Shah Jahān and Jahāngīr . The fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Why was Agra Fort important in Indian history?

Agra Fort is a historically significant 16th-century fortress built by Mughal Emperor Akbar on the Yamuna River in Agra. Serving as both a military base and royal residence, it was the seat of government when Agra was the Mughal capital. Reflecting Mughal architectural grandeur, the fort's red sandstone walls enclose a complex of palaces, mosques and halls, showcasing a blend of Persian and Hindu styles. Agra Fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. The fort is known for its imposing structure and intricate marble inlays. Agra Fort served as a model for later Mughal congregational mosques.

What are some famous buildings and features inside Agra Fort?

Agra Fort, a 16th-century fortress established by Mughal Emperor Akbar, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Constructed of red sandstone on the Yamuna River, it served as a military base and royal residence. Key features inside Agra Fort include: * Jahangir’s Palace (Jahangiri Mahal) Built by Akbar as a private residence for his son Jahangir, it is the largest residence in the complex. * Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid) Constructed by Shah Jahan entirely of white marble. * Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas) Used for receiving important visitors. * Octagonal Tower (Musamman Burj) Residence of Shah Jahan’s favorite empress, Mumtaz Mahal. * Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-\'Am) Where the emperor met state officials and listened to public petitions. * Palace of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal) With walls and ceilings inlaid with thousands of small mirrors, it may have served as baths or a boudoir for the queens.

How is Agra Fort connected to the Mughal emperors and the Taj Mahal?

Agra Fort, a 16th-century fortress, was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. Serving as both a military base and royal residence, it was the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra. Later, Shah Jahān, another Mughal emperor, added structures to it, including the Pearl Mosque. Agra Fort is connected to the Taj Mahal by parkland and gardens. Shah Jahān, who built the Taj Mahal to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal, was later imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb until his death. Both the fort and the Taj Mahal were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1983.

Agra Fort

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Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India: Agra Fort (Red Fort)

Map of South Asia highlighting the location of Agra, India, with a red star indicating its status as a World Heritage Site. Agra is shown in northern India, with surrounding countries including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. An inset globe in the upper right corner marks the region's position in the world.

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Also called:: Red Fort

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Agra Fort

historical fortress, Agra, India

Also known as: Red Fort

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What is Agra Fort?
Agra Fort is a 16th-century fortress in Agra, India, established by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Serving as both a military base and royal residence, it was the seat of government when Agra was the Mughal capital. The fort, reflecting Mughal architectural grandeur, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Constructed on the Yamuna River's right bank, the crescent-shaped structure has 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of walls. The fort has two access points: the Amar Singh Gate and the Delhi Gate. Within are palaces and mosques built by Shah Jahān and Jahāngīr. Key attractions include Jahāngīr’s Palace, the Pearl Mosque, the Hall of Private Audience, and the Palace of Mirrors.
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Where is Agra Fort located?
Agra Fort, a large 16th-century fortress made of red sandstone, is located on the Yamuna River in the historic city of Agra, in west-central Uttar Pradesh, north-central India. The Taj Mahal is about 1 mile (1.6 km) away.

Akbar, a Mughal emperor, established the fort, which functioned as both a military base and a royal residence. It served as the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra. The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
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1. Agra
2. Agra Fort
3. Taj Mahal
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Who built Agra Fort and when was it built?
Agra Fort, a large 16th-century fortress of red sandstone on the Yamuna River in Agra, India, was established by the Mughal emperor Akbar. It served as a military base and royal residence, representing the architectural grandeur of the Mughal reign.

Construction of the fort, situated on the site of earlier fortifications, was commissioned by Akbar in 1565 and reportedly took eight years, i.e. up to 1573, to construct. The walls of the crescent-shaped structure have a circumference of about 1.5 miles (2.5 km), rising 70 feet (21 metres) high, and are surrounded by a moat. Many structures within the walls were added later by subsequent Mughal emperors, notably Shah Jahān and Jahāngīr. The fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why was Agra Fort important in Indian history?
Agra Fort is a historically significant 16th-century fortress built by Mughal Emperor Akbar on the Yamuna River in Agra. Serving as both a military base and royal residence, it was the seat of government when Agra was the Mughal capital. Reflecting Mughal architectural grandeur, the fort's red sandstone walls enclose a complex of palaces, mosques and halls, showcasing a blend of Persian and Hindu styles.

Agra Fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. The fort is known for its imposing structure and intricate marble inlays. Agra Fort served as a model for later Mughal congregational mosques.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some famous buildings and features inside Agra Fort?
Agra Fort, a 16th-century fortress established by Mughal Emperor Akbar, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Constructed of red sandstone on the Yamuna River, it served as a military base and royal residence.

Key features inside Agra Fort include:
* Jahangir’s Palace (Jahangiri Mahal) Built by Akbar as a private residence for his son Jahangir, it is the largest residence in the complex.
* Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid) Constructed by Shah Jahan entirely of white marble.
* Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas) Used for receiving important visitors.
* Octagonal Tower (Musamman Burj) Residence of Shah Jahan’s favorite empress, Mumtaz Mahal.
* Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-\'Am) Where the emperor met state officials and listened to public petitions.
* Palace of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal) With walls and ceilings inlaid with thousands of small mirrors, it may have served as baths or a boudoir for the queens.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Akbar period architecture
2. Agra Fort
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How is Agra Fort connected to the Mughal emperors and the Taj Mahal?
Agra Fort, a 16th-century fortress, was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. Serving as both a military base and royal residence, it was the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra. Later, Shah Jahān, another Mughal emperor, added structures to it, including the Pearl Mosque. Agra Fort is connected to the Taj Mahal by parkland and gardens. Shah Jahān, who built the Taj Mahal to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal, was later imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb until his death. Both the fort and the Taj Mahal were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1983.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Agra Fort gateAmar Singh Gate, Agra Fort (Red Fort), Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Agra Fort, large 16th-century fortress of red sandstone located on the Yamuna River in the historic city of Agra, west-central Uttar Pradesh, north-central India. It was established by the Mughal emperor Akbar and, in its capacity as both a military base and a royal residence, served as the seat of government when the Mughal capital was in Agra. The structure, a contemporary of Humāyūn’s Tomb in Delhi (about 125 miles [200 km] to the northwest), reflects the architectural grandeur of the Mughal reign in India. The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Situated on the site of earlier fortifications, it lies on the right bank of the Yamuna River and is connected to another of Agra’s renowned monuments, the Taj Mahal (downstream, around a bend in the Yamuna), by a swath of parkland and gardens. The fort was commissioned by Akbar in 1565 and reportedly took eight years to construct. The walls of the roughly crescent-shaped structure have a circumference of about 1.5 miles (2.5 km), rise 70 feet (21 metres) high, and are surrounded by a moat. There are two access points in the walls: the Amar Singh Gate facing south (now the only means in or out of the fort complex) and the Delhi Gate facing west, the original entrance, which is richly decorated with intricate marble inlays. Many structures within the walls were added later by subsequent Mughal emperors, notably Shah Jahān and Jahāngīr. The complex of buildings—reminiscent of Persian- and Timurid-style architectural features—forms a city within a city.

Among the major attractions in the fort is Jahāngīr’s Palace (Jahāngīri Mahal), built by Akbar as a private palace for his son Jahāngir. It is the largest residence in the complex. The Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid), constructed by Shah Jahān, is a tranquil and perfectly proportioned structure made entirely of white marble. The Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas) was used for receiving distinguished visitors. The famous Peacock Throne was once kept there, before Aurangzeb took it to Delhi. Near the Hall of Private Audience stands the tall Octagonal Tower (Musamman Burj), the residence of Shah Jahān’s favourite empress, Mumtaz Mahal. In the Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-ʿAm), the emperor would listen to public petitions and meet state officials. The elegant marble walls of the Khas Mahal (the emperor’s private palace) were once adorned with flowers depicted by precious gems. Located to its northeast is the splendid Palace of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal), its walls and ceilings inlaid with thousands of small mirrors. The structure’s two dazzling chambers were probably used as baths and possibly as a boudoir by the queens.

Chandigarh. Statuettes at the Rock Garden of Chandigarh a sculpture park in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden. Created by Nek Chand Saini an Indian self taught artist. visionary artist, folk artist, environmental art

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In addition to its other functions, the fort also served as a prison for Shah Jahān. Aurangzeb, his son and successor as emperor, had him confined there from 1658 until his death in 1666.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan.

Agra Fort

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