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 The
high red sandstone ramparts of this great monument stretch
for almost 2.5 kilometers, dominating a bend in the river
Yamuna, northwest of the Taj Mahal. The foundation of this
majestic citadel was laid by the Emperor Akbar and it
developed as a stronghold of the Mughal Empire under
successive generations.
The curved bastions of the huge walls are interrupted by
impressive gates of which only the Amar Singh gate is now
open to the public. The original and grandest entrance was
through the Delhi Gate, which leads to the inner portal
called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate.
The graceful Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audiences,
made of red sandstone, was constructed by Shahjahan in 1628.
Three rows of white polished stucco pillars topped by
peacock arches support the flat roof. Today, this Hall is
bereft of brocade decorations, silk carpets and satin
canopies which would have enhanced the elegance of the
settings when the Emperor sat down with his subjects to hear
their complaints.
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The Agra Fort houses the Royal Pavilions, which were
designed to catch the cool breeze wafting across the river. Other
attractions comprise the Macchi Bhawan or the Fish Palace, the
Hammam-i-Shahi or the Royal Bath, the Nagina Masjid or the Gem Mosque, and
the Zenana Meena Bazaar, where the ladies of the court would browse through
goods like silk, jewelry and brocade.
Past the Chitor gate,
installed in 1568, is the Diwan-i-Khas, or the Hall of Private Audience.
Here, the emperor would receive kings, dignitaries and ambassadors. Tucked
away by the west wall of the hall is the Mina Masjid or the Heavenly mosque,
where Shahjahan prayed when he was imprisoned in the Fort by his son
Aurangzeb. |
A doorway from
the rear of the Diwan-i-Khas leads to the Mussaman Burj, a
two-storeyed pavilion, where Shahjahan caught the last
glimpse of the Taj Mahal before he died. Surrounded by a
verandah, the elegant chamber has a lattice-screen
balustrade with ornamental niches; exquisite inlay covers
almost every surface and a marble chhatri (umbrella) on top
adds the finishing touch.
The Khas Mahal or the Private Palace was used by the emperor
as a sleeping chamber and is designed for comfort, with
cavities in the room to insulate against the heat. The Mahal
is flanked by two golden pavilions. Other ornate palaces
within the Fort are the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors),
the Shah Jahani Mahal (Shahjahan's Palace), Jahangiri Mahal
(Jahangir's Palace) and the Akbari Mahal (Akbar's Mahal).
These palaces are hybrid in design and some are distinctly
Mughal in style while others like the Jahangiri Mahal are
almost entirely Hindu in their interior design.
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