Long Description
The Red Fort and the Taj Mahal bear an exceptional and
complementary testimony to a civilization which has disappeared, that of
the Mogul Emperors. Agra's history goes back more than 2,500 years, but
it was not until the reign of the Mughals that Agra became more than a
provincial city. Humayun, son of the founder of the Mogul Empire, was
offered jewellery and precious stones by the family of the Raja of
Gwalior, one of them the famous Koh-i-Noor. The heyday of Agra came with
the reign of Humayun's son, Akbar the Great. During his reign, the main
part of the Agra Fort was built.
The Red Fort of Agra is a powerful fortress founded in 1565 by the
Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) on the right bank of the Yamuna; it is placed
today on the north-west extremity of the Shah Jahan Gardens which
surround the Taj Mahal and clearly form, with them, a monumental unity.
This bastioned fortress, with walls of red sandstone rising above a
moat and interrupted by graceful curves and lofty bastions, encompasses
within its enclosure walls of 2.5 km, the imperial city of the Mogul
rulers. Like the Delhi Fort, that of Agra is one of the most obvious
symbols of the Mogul grandeur which asserted itself under Akbar,
Jahangir and Shah Jahan.
The wall has two gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. The
original and grandest entrance was through the Delhi Gate, which leads
to the inner portal called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate. But now the
entrance to the fort is only through the Amar Singh Gate.
The citadel comprises a large number of fairy-like palaces: the Khas
Mahal, the Shish Mahal, the octagonal tower of Muhammam Burj, as well as
reception rooms: Diwan-i-Khas, built in 1637 and the many pillared
Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), constructed in 1628, under the
reign of the luxury-loving Shah Jahan (1630-55). Within the palatial
complex, there are two very beautiful mosques of white marble, the Moti
Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, constructed in 1646-53 by Shah Jahan and the
Nagina Masjid built under the reign of Aurangzeb (1658-1707).
Several of the buildings are made from pure marble with beautiful
carvings; all of these monuments mark the apogee of an Indo-Muslim art
strongly marked by influences from Persia which already manifested
itself in Timurid art.
Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his
son Aurangzeb in Agra Fort, from which he had a view of the building
erected for his deceased wife. Shah Jahan is said to have died in the
Musamman Burj, a tower with a beautiful marble balcony.
Interior Bracketing
Jahangiri Mahal, Agra Fort
The ornate, sinuous carving and pendants on the brackets are
typical of early Mughal style, much of which derives from Hindu forms.
Additional examples of this type are seen in Fatehpur.
Musamman Burj
Agra Fort
On the east side of the fort, this octagonal pavilion looks out
across the Jumna River and countryside, and downstream to the Taj Mahal.
It is said to be the tower where Shah Jahan was imprisoned. Next to the
Burj in the photo left foreground is the rear of the Khass Mahal and
its adjoining pavilions. Below are fortifications and the riverbank. The
river was originally higher, reaching up to the base of the walls.
Inner Chamber
Mussaman Burj, Agra Fort
The inner chamber of Musamman Burj is exquisitely worked in
marble decorated with pietra dura (colored stone inlay). At the bottom
of the photo is the lip of the basin of an elaborate sunken marble
fountain.
Pavilion
Agra Fort
This is one of two pavilions flanking the Khass Mahal (left). Its curving
bangla
roof imitates the shape of Bengali thatched huts, in one of the
characteristic styles of 17th century Mughal building. The pavilion
overlooks the Jumna river to the east (photo rear).
Khass Mahal
Agra Fort
The
Khass Mahal (Private Pavilion) dates from 1636. This
was probably a multifunction room that could have been used for various
kinds of gatherings, or even for sleeping.
