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Agra Fort
An Architectural Treasure
Though
Agra is more famous world over as the city of Taj, Agra Fort is another dimension
to the city thatattracts tourists in hordes. Built by Akbar in Red Sandstone
when he was through with the consolidation of his power after accession to power
in 1654, Agra Fort worked both as a military strategic point as well as the
royal residence. Many of the palaces inside the fort were later added by next
generations of Mughal Emperors like Jahangir and Shahjahan.
Most of the buildings within the Agra Fort are a mixture of different architectural
styles. The assimilation of these different styles has given the buildings within
the fort a distinctive look. For instance, the Jahangiri Palace built by Akbar
is a good blend of Islamic (Persian) and different local Hindu styles. Other
buildings either have a mixed style or conform predominantly to the Islamic
style.
Agra Fort - The Location
Agra Fort is located on the banks of the Yamuna near the railway station. Agra
is well connected by air with Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Delhi. It has good rail
and bus connections with major Indian cities. From the city, there are taxis,
tempos, auto-rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws to carry one to the fort. Prepaid
taxis and autos from the railway station are also available. Bicycles can also
be hired on hourly basis.
The
History of Agra Fort
Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertion of his
power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, coeval with the construction
of Humayun's tomb in Delhi. The Agra fort retains the irregular outline of the
demolished mud-wall fort of the Lodis.
The lofty battlements o the new fort cast its protective shadow over the far
stretching mansions of court that nobles and princes built along the riverfront.
The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized
the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar.
The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built
by two generations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan.
Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions
only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
The fort is auricular in shape and its colossal double walls rise 20 m in height
and measure 2.5 m in circumference. The fort is encircled by a fetid moat. The
lofty battlements of the Agra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching
mansions of nobles and princes built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers,
bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power
of the third Mughal emperor.
The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built
by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and
Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati
traditions, only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.
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