Agra Fort

Whoever is visiting Taj Mahal in Agra cannot miss seeing Agra Fort because it is on the way to Taj Mahal. Rebuilt by Akbar the Great in 1565, this fort even today stands as a testimony to Mogul Architecture. Although Agra's history goes back more than 2,500 years, it was not until the reign of the Mughals that Agra became more than a provincial city. The peak developments of Agra happened during the reign of Humayun's son, Akbar the Great and the main part of the Agra Fort was also built during his times.

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.

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.

During the times of Shah Jahan, several modifications were done in the fort. He also built several palaces inside the fort. Shah Jahan had a great obsession for white marbles and all modifications and additions that were made during his times were done with white marbles, while the original fort was made with red sandstone. In fact in some places the combination of white marbles and red sandstone looks spectacular!

Whatever that was built by the luxury loving Shah Jahan was a symbol of luxury with the walls studded with precious stones & pearls. 

Sir Frederic Treves who was the personal physician to King Edward VII toured India in 1910 and wrote in his famous travelogue, “The Other Side of the Lantern” - “Those who would like to see how an Emperor should live, must visit Agra or Delhi. There was nothing in Europe to compare with this radiant court. The halls of the palace of the king of England were humble and insignificant by the side of the gorgeous domes that covered the head of the Emperor of India”. 

During the times of Jahangir, he gave lot of importance to Justice. In fact after his accession the first order he gave was for the fastening up of the ‘Chain of Justice’ in 1605 AD in a place called Shah Burj or King’s Tower within the fort. This was meant to be used by anyone who felt that the people engaged in the administration of justice either delayed to deliver justice or found to be acting hypocritically. The aggrieved person can pull the chain so that the bells would ring and get the attention of the Emperor who was the highest judicial authority. The chain and the bells were all made of pure gold. Probably this prompted the English statesman and Prime Minister William E. Gladstone to say ‘Justice delayed is Justice denied’.