Agra fort india. India - Agra Red Fort and its palaces

Agri, built by three generations of the Mughals, still enchants the whole world with its grandeur. An invincible military fortress with the luxury of a royal palace became the main residence of the emperors of northern India after the transfer of the capital to Agra at the beginning of the 16th century. Here Shah Jahan spent his last days in prison, having built. The Red Fort in Agra, along with the Taj Mahal, was listed by UNESCO in 1983.

Myths and facts

The history of Agra goes back over 2500 years. Until the 16th century, it was one of the provincial towns, until Muslim rulers came here. , the founder of the Mughal empire, received a rich inheritance and a number of precious stones as a gift from the family of King Gwalior (including the famous Kohinoor diamond, which is today in). But things got even better when his son Akbar the Great ascended the throne, in whose reign the Red Fort was built.

The construction of the fortress began in 1565 and was completed by 1571. The crescent-shaped fortification stretches along the Yamuna River. The military fort covers an area with a diameter of 3 km, the height of the walls is more than 20 meters. There are four gates in the double walls, two of which were walled up later. The fortress is built of red sandstone, which gave it its name. Contrasting with the defensive walls, there are graceful snow-white mosques and palaces inside.

What to watch

There were six mosques and palaces within the walls of the fort, but not all of them have survived to this day. One of the most significant is the multi-storey Jahangiri Mahal, built by Akbar for his wife Jotha Bai. The white-stone palace Mahal consists of the most beautiful halls with fine carvings and exquisite decoration. The walls are decorated with Persian-style paintings and stucco paintings in gold and blue flowers. There is a large stone bowl in the yard, probably for rose water. On the outside of this stone ball, Persian verses are carved in decorative script.

The most delightful example of painting on the surface of marble has been preserved in Khas Mahal, the palace of Shah Jahan. Features of Islamic and Hindu architecture intertwined in the chambers of the emperor.

Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) is undoubtedly the most famous example of glass mosaic in India. It was built by Shah Jahan as an imperial bath. Thick walls and ceilings, providing coolness, are generously inlaid with mirrors. With no windows, light enters the halls only through two doors and a ventilation hole in the south wall, which creates a beautiful dramatic effect of artificial lighting reflected in the mirrors. In the center of the room is a marble cistern with fountains and mechanisms for hot and cold water.

To the right of the Shish Mahal, away from the embankment, is Divani Khas - a hall for private audiences of the emperor. If you look closely, you can see the dimples in the walls where the gems once were. Maybe you will be lucky to find a preserved piece of jewelry? Here, Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last days, when he was overthrown by his own son, looking at the Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love, where he was later buried, reunited with his beloved Mumtaz.

The originality of the royal palaces-fortresses keeps the imprint of the main traditions of their country: (Imperial Palace) in

Agra Fort or Red Fort is a fortified city that served as the residence for all the early Mughal emperors since the 15th century. Not the entire territory of the fort is open to tourists, a small part is used by the government as a military base.

The Red Fort in Agra is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River and is only 2.5 km from the famous landmark of India - the Taj Mahal. Agra Fort has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983.

History of construction and reconstruction

In the place of the Red Fort, back in the 11th century, there was a small brick fortress, which served as the protection of the lands of Agra. But in 1558, during the era of Akbar, the fortress was significantly expanded. Inside the fort built magnificent rooms for the rulers. And outside, impressive double walls of stone and red sand were erected, as well as a 10-meter-deep moat was dug, at the bottom of which crocodiles once lived in a man-made reservoir.

In the 17th century, Akbar the Great's successor, Shah Jahan, reconstructed Agra Fort, reinforcing the castle's defensive fortifications with huge round bastions. White marble elements and gilding and precious stones were also added. Inspired by the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan brought his own changes to the front rooms of the fort.

The Red Fort covers an area of ​​38 hectares and looks like a whole town, and not just a defensive fortress. It has a semicircular shape and is located along the Yamuna River. The fortification has access to the river, the so-called "water gate". Apart from them, Agra Fort had only four entrances with several gates and defensive structures. But today, two entrances to the fort are walled up. And the entrance for tourists is open only through the gate of Amar Singh.

What to see on the territory of the Red Fort in Agra

Particular attention of tourists is attracted by the Jahangiri Mahal palace made of white stone. Huge halls are located inside the multi-tiered palace, and bright paintings flaunt on the walls. The Jahangiri Mahal has a patio and an enigmatic inscribed stone bowl, the adaptation of which is not known.

It is also interesting to see the Pearl Mosque, the audience hall called Divani Khas and the Shish Mahal (Mirror Palace). Throughout the territory there are well-groomed lawns, columns, royal pavilions and palaces. In addition, some pavilions offer views of the Taj Mahal and the Yamuna River from their balconies.

The Red Fort is very extensive, here you can walk for a long time among the magnificent buildings of past centuries. And despite its ascetic appearance of the exterior, Agra Fort is distinguished by luxurious interior decoration.

Information for tourists

Railway station “Agra Fort” at: Near Agra Fort Crossing, Bijli Ghar, Pipal Mandi, Mantola, Agra.

Attraction opening hours: daily from 6:00 am to dusk.

Ticket price: 500 INR (children under 15 - free).

Best time to visit: from November to March (when there is no sultry heat).

Hotels in Agra should be booked in advance, you can do this on our website Planet of Hotels. We also recommend visiting the tomb of Akbar the Great - the tomb of one of the most famous and revered Muslim rulers of India.

Red Fort (Lal Qila) - the largest monument of Old Delhi with blood-red bastions and bulging towers that have withstood the vagaries of nature and time. Above the entrance to the palace of the fortress, the words "If there is a paradise in the world, then it is here" are carved. The citadel, in the image and likeness of the paradise described in the Koran, was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who moved the capital to Delhi in the middle of the 17th century and called it Shahjanabad - the city of Shah Jahan.

Myths and facts

The construction of the fortress began in 1639 and was completed in 1648 on a hill on the northeast side of the new city. The surrounding walls of red sandstone, which gave the fort its name, stretch for 2.5 km, reaching a height of 16 meters on the river side and 33 meters on the city side.

The Red Fort in Delhi contains all the attributes of an imperial residence: ceremonial halls for public and private audiences, convex-arched, beautiful mosques and intricate gardens. The red palace-fortress became the pinnacle of architecture and power of Shah Jahan. In its original grandeur, it would have eclipsed with its splendor, and in terms of area it was twice the size of Escorial - the largest.

But the glory was short-lived, as was the Mughal empire. In 1739, the fortress was attacked by the Persian emperor Nadir Shah, in 1783 it was captured by the Sikhs, and in 1857 by British soldiers. The raiders wrested the treasure and demolished much of the fort. And although today, instead of 3 thousand courtiers, only ghosts inhabit the surviving palaces, the city maintains ancient buildings and flowering gardens, and the descendants of merchants and artisans who served Shah Jahan still trade near the walls of the Red Fort.

What to watch

The main entrance is the Lahore gate, facing the city of Lahore (Pakistan). This gate has a special meaning for India - important speeches of freedom fighters and national leaders were held here. On the other side is the more luxurious Delhi Gate, which was once used by the emperor during the ceremonial procession to the mosque.

Behind the main entrance, the Chatta Chowk market opens, where the most talented jewelers and weavers sell jewelry and carpets. It was known as the Ming Bazaar for court ladies. Immediately behind it is the Nubat Khana or Drum House, where the ancient cymbals, timpani and oboes of the Emperor's musicians are kept.

The Red Fort also contains Divan-i-Am, a public audience hall where the emperor listened to the complaints of ordinary people. Divan-i-Khas - a private audience hall in which the ruler held closed meetings. Another interesting feature of the fort is the imperial baths or hammam. The white marble walls of the halls are illuminated by multi-colored rays through the colored glass on the ceiling. The Rang Mahal (Palace of Color) housed the emperor's wives and concubines. The opulent palace was topped with gilded turrets, adorned with an intricate mosaic of mirrors, and the ceiling covered in gold and silver reflected in a pool in the center.

Even today, the Red Fort remains a telling reminder of the glory of the Mughal era and a haven of peace to escape from the frantic pace of modern Delhi.

The Indian city of Agra was the capital of the Mughal Empire for only a hundred years: from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. But even such a short period from a historical point of view turned out to be decisive not only for the development of the city, but also for the world treasury of cultural values. It was during these years that two outstanding monuments were built in Agra: the mausoleum and the Red Fort. Both are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

From the moment Agra was awarded the capital status in 1558, Akbar I the Great, the ruler of the empire, faced the question of creating a worthy residence. For these purposes, an old dilapidated fort, erected by the former owners of the city, was chosen. By 1571, the reconstructed structure was completely surrounded by new red sandstone walls. Later, the successors of Akbar the Great expanded the fort, adding elements of white marble, gold and precious stones to the design.

The architectural style of the Red Fort harmoniously combined Islamic and Hindu traditions. The crescent-shaped government complex, covering an area of ​​380 thousand square meters, is surrounded by a deep moat, as well as a wall with a perimeter of 2.4 km and a height of 21 meters. The gates, oriented to 4 cardinal directions, had suspension bridges. The main government entrance was the Delhi Gate. Decorated especially gracefully, they are recognized as a masterpiece of architecture from the time of the Mughal Empire.

Once inside the fort there were about five hundred palaces, mosques and other buildings, as well as many gardens, but many of them have not survived to this day. First, Shah Jahan, who took the post of padishah in 1627, removed unnecessary buildings to erect several elegant palaces of white marble (and the politician who immortalized his name with the construction of the Taj Mahal can hardly be reproached for such a decision). And later, in 1803, the fort was captured by British troops, who needed practical barracks instead of pretentious chambers. Jewels that adorned walls and buildings were also looted.

Half a century later, the most important event for India took place on the territory of the Red Fort: fierce battles during the Sepoy Rebellion put an end to the power of the British East India Company. Today, the fortress is a monument of history and culture, although it is only partially open to tourists. Its territory, adjacent to the Delhi Gate, is now used for military purposes.

But even those parts of the Red Fort that are available to visitors will allow you to enjoy the beauty of these places and visit interesting museums. In addition, from the windows of some buildings you can see the famous Taj Mahal, located just 2 kilometers away.

We invite you to admire the Shish Mahal (Mirror Palace), the white-stone Jahangiri Mahal, the Rang Mahal (Colorful Palace) and other amazing buildings of the Red Fort: from the height of the AirPano panoramas, they will appear especially large and colorful.

Remember who missed...

Why is the post named in plural? And because I started to collect material, I found that there are two popular Red Forts in Vindia, one in Agra and the other in Delhi and between them about 200 kilometers. Moreover, the details of these forts are very similar to each other. Let's find out the history of these ancient objects.

Agra Fort - Red Gate of India

Most of India in the XVI century was in the possession of the Mughal dynasties. The magnificent buildings built during their reign remind of the time of India's greatest prosperity.

“We took refuge in the ancient Agra fortress. I don't know, gentlemen, if any of you have heard of her. This is a very strange building. I have never seen anything like this, and believe me, I have seen a lot of strange things in my lifetime, ”the writer Arthur Conan Doyle described the citadel, located about 200 kilometers from the Indian capital of Delhi, in the story The Sign of Four.

The Agra fortress is really amazing: it is a whole complex of palaces, squares, mosques, baths, parks and pavilions, located in the Indian city of the same name with a rich history and huge tourist potential.

Created by the efforts of three powerful Mughal emperors, Agra Fort is surrounded by a double wall of red sandstone, cut through by four tower gates. Known also under the name “Red Fort”, the building has become a symbol of Indian five-century history.

Agra Fort has been the "headquarters" of famous military leaders for centuries and the seat of important statesmen of the famous Mughal era. The luxury and splendor of Agra has always been to the taste of all the rulers who preferred life according to social status.

The history of Agra goes back over 2500 years. Until the 16th century, it was one of the provincial towns, until Muslim rulers came here. Humayun, the founder of the Mughal Empire, received a rich inheritance and a number of precious stones as a gift from the King of Gwalior's family (including the famous Kohinoor diamond, which is now in England). But things got even better when his son Akbar the Great ascended the throne, in whose reign the Red Fort was built.

The construction of the fortress began in 1565 and was completed by 1571. The crescent-shaped fortification stretches along the Yamuna River. The military fort covers an area with a diameter of 3 km, the height of the walls is more than 20 meters. There are four gates in the double walls, two of which were walled up later. The fortress is built of red sandstone, which gave it its name. Contrasting with the defensive walls, there are graceful snow-white mosques and palaces inside.

One of the hallmarks of Agra Fort is its unique architectural forms and generous use of red stone and decorative marble inlays. Akbar himself preferred these materials, so it is to him that numerous tourists owe the opportunity to admire the current splendor of the fort.

True, the subsequent ruler Shah Jahan, who wished to expand the already grandiose structure, insisted on the further use of white marble in the construction, complemented by gold inserts and precious stones, which, in turn, made the interiors of Agra Fort irresistible.

In 1648, the capital was moved back to Delhi, in connection with which the Red Fort of Agra lost its significance. Emperor Shah Jahan, after the construction of the Taj Mahal mausoleum, was going to build a copy of it from black marble on the opposite bank of the Yamuga River. Legend has it that his son Aurangzeb, just at that time rushing to power, used these fantasies of his father to prove his slight insanity and inability to rule the country.

A little later, Emperor Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the fortress of Agra at the direction of his son, who treacherously seized the throne in 1658. also located in the city of Agra, not far from the red fortress walls ...

After he was overthrown by his youngest son, he was imprisoned in a fort. On this fact, historians are still breaking spears, since the surviving documents do not clearly indicate in which fort the arrested ruler was sitting, in the Red Fort of Delhi or in the Red Fort of Agra. But, given the romantic prehistory, we have taken the position of those historians who believe that there was a fort in Agra.

So, the deposed Shah asked for only one concession - to be put in a room from which the Taj Mahal was visible. This was possible, since both structures were located on different banks of the same river. For the khan, a separate cell was equipped with a view of the Taj Mahal. How about a camera. Mini palace inside a palace. This section of the fort differs markedly from other rooms in rich decoration. Apparently, the youngest son, although he seized power, still did not forget about his father. Together with the Shah, his eldest daughter, who accompanied the Shah until his death, was also arrested.

IN last years When the Shah's health collapsed and he could only lie down, a mirror was built over him, in which the Taj Mahal was reflected.

After the death of the Shah, while no one knew about it, the daughter transported his body by boat and secretly buried near the Taj Mahal. This is such a sad story. However, there are other interpretations of the events of those times.

Currently, Agra Fort has the original crescent shape. Its total length is more than two and a half kilometers, and the height of the surrounding walls is about 21 meters. In the mixture of architectural styles, two of the most striking can be distinguished - Hindu and Islamic architecture.

The inexorable time, of course, left its mark on the appearance of one of the most famous buildings in India. But, despite the multiple destruction, Agra Fort retains its grandeur and is of great interest to tourists. Not without reason, in 1983, the fort was taken under the protection of the ubiquitous UNESCO.

There were six mosques and palaces within the walls of the fort, but not all of them have survived to this day. One of the most significant is the multi-storey Jahangiri Mahal, built by Akbar for his wife Jotha Bai. The white-stone palace Mahal consists of the most beautiful halls with fine carvings and exquisite decoration. The walls are decorated with Persian-style paintings and stucco paintings in gold and blue. There is a large stone bowl in the yard, probably for rose water. On the outside of this stone ball, Persian verses are carved in decorative script.

The most delightful example of painting on the surface of marble has been preserved in Khas Mahal, the palace of Shah Jahan. Features of Islamic and Hindu architecture intertwined in the chambers of the emperor.

Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) is undoubtedly the most famous example of glass mosaic in India. It was built by Shah Jahan as an imperial bath. Thick walls and ceilings, providing coolness, are generously inlaid with mirrors. With no windows, light enters the halls only through two doors and a ventilation hole in the south wall, which creates a beautiful dramatic effect of artificial lighting reflected in the mirrors. In the center of the room is a marble cistern with fountains and mechanisms for hot and cold water.

To the right of the Shish Mahal, away from the embankment, is the Divani Khas, a hall for private audiences of the emperor. If you look closely, you can see the dimples in the walls where the gems once were. Maybe you will be lucky to find a preserved piece of jewelry? Here, Emperor Shah Jahan spent his last days, when he was overthrown by his own son, looking at the Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love, where he was later buried, reunited with his beloved Mumtaz.

The Red Fort in Agra is located just 2 km from the Taj Mahal. Despite the fact that part of the fort is used for military purposes, the main attractions of the fortress are open to visitors daily from dawn to dusk. The entrance fee is 300 rupees.

In the Red Fort, you may encounter a division into winter and summer residences, which were then in all ancient buildings. Summer houses have many windows and are usually located so that they do not get heated by the rays of the sun. Winter ones, on the contrary, are on the sunny side and closed from the wind. In addition, the buildings had an artificial system of tunnels in the walls, which were used as a means of heating or cooling. The tunnels passed either hot or cold water.

In addition to "modern" heating technologies, the palaces were not without mysticism. And not the primitive one, as in the case of the Delhi pillar, but quite real.

Since 1803, the fort has been used by British troops. And during the sepoy uprising of 1857, the fort was the site of armed clashes.

And here is the second fort.

The Red Fort in Delhi is one of the most important historical complexes in India, embodying a long period of Indian history, a symbol of the architectural beauty and power of India's ruling dynasties. The main attractions of the Fort are Diwan-i-Am (Hall of General Audience), Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), Rang Mahal (Colorful Palace). There are shops, a museum of paintings, an archaeological museum, a memorial museum. In 2007, the Red Fort was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan began building the massive fort in 1638, and 10 years later the work was completed. The fortress-palace became an important center of medieval Shahjahanabad, where Shah Jahan moved his capital from the city of Agra. The planning and aesthetics of the Delhi Red Fort represent the pinnacle of creativity Mughal during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Subsequent emperors of India expanded the construction of a complex of new buildings. During the British rule, the fort was mainly used as a military camp, and even after independence, a significant part of the fort remained at the disposal of the Indian army. In December 2003, the army handed over the fort to the Indian authorities, and since then it has been used as a tourist attraction in Delhi.

Bahadur Shah II was the last Mughal emperor to occupy the fort. Despite the fact that the Red Fort served as the center of imperial power of the Mughal Empire and was a fortified fortress, it was not defended during the uprising against the British in 1857. After the defeat of the uprising, Bahadur Shah II became a prisoner of the British in the Red Fort.

The Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist sites in Old Delhi. On the anniversary of independence from Britain (August 15 each year), it is from here that the Prime Minister of India addresses the Indian people. It is the largest historical monument in Old Delhi.

By the way, do not confuse red fort in Delhi from agra fort in Agra (it is also sometimes called the Red Fort, but this is erroneous). The fact is that although both forts were built (among other materials) from red sandstone (hence the name and the red color of the walls), the official name of the fort in Agra - exactly agra fort .

red fort in Delhi stands on the banks of the river Jumny (Yamuna).

The perimeter of the fortress wall of the fort is 2500 m. The height is from 16 to 33 meters.

The Red Fort (Lal Qila) is the largest monument of Old Delhi with blood-red bastions and bulging towers that have withstood the vagaries of nature and time. Above the entrance to the palace of the fortress, the words "If there is a paradise in the world, then it is here" are carved. The citadel, in the image and likeness of the paradise described in the Koran, was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who moved the capital to Delhi in the middle of the 17th century and called it Shahjanabad - the city of Shah Jahan.

The Red Fort in Delhi contains all the attributes of an imperial residence: ceremonial halls for public and private audiences, convex-arched marble palaces, beautiful mosques and intricate gardens. The red palace-fortress became the pinnacle of architecture and power of Shah Jahan. In its original grandeur, it would have eclipsed the Palace of Versailles with its splendor, and the area was twice the size of Escorial, the largest palace in Europe.

But the glory was short-lived, as was the Mughal empire. In 1739, the fortress was attacked by the Persian emperor Nadir Shah, in 1783 it was captured by the Sikhs, and in 1857 by British soldiers. The raiders wrested the treasure and demolished much of the fort. And although today, instead of 3 thousand courtiers, the surviving palaces are inhabited only by ghosts, the city maintains ancient buildings and flowering gardens, and the descendants of merchants and artisans who served Shah Jahan still trade near the walls of the Red Fort.

The main entrance is the Lahore gate, facing the city of Lahore (Pakistan). This gate has a special meaning for India - important speeches of freedom fighters and national leaders were held here. On the other side is the more luxurious Delhi Gate, which was once used by the emperor during the ceremonial procession to the mosque.

Behind the main entrance, the Chatta Chowk market opens, where the most talented jewelers and weavers sell jewelry and carpets. It was known as the Ming Bazaar for court ladies. Immediately behind it is the Nubat Khana or Drum House, where the ancient cymbals, timpani and oboes of the Emperor's musicians are kept.

The Red Fort also contains the Divan-i-Am, a public audience hall where the emperor listened to the complaints of the common people. Divan-i-Khas - a private audience hall in which the ruler held closed meetings. Another interesting feature of the fort is the imperial baths or hammam. The white marble walls of the halls are illuminated by multi-colored rays through the colored glass on the ceiling. The Rang Mahal (Palace of Color) housed the emperor's wives and concubines. The opulent palace was topped with gilded turrets, adorned with an intricate mosaic of mirrors, and the ceiling covered in gold and silver reflected in a pool in the center.