Agra FortEmperor Akbar constructed the massive red sand stone Agra Fort on the bank of the Yamuna river in 1565. Many additions were made to the structure by Shah Jahan. The fort was built primarily as a military structure but during Shah Jahan's reign it was upgraded to a palace and finally became a prison for him when Aurangzeb seized power in 1658. The fort's colossal double walls rise over 20m in height and measure 2. 5 km in circumference. They contain a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city. The most impressive building to survive is the legendary white marble Moti Masjid regarded as one of the beautiful mosques in India. It was built by Shah Jahan between 1646 to 1653. The marble mosque is considered to be perfectly proportioned and a Persian inscription inside the building compares it to a perfect pearl. It is surrounded by arcaded cloisters with a marble tank in the center. The Amar Singh gate to the south is the sole entry point to the fort.
Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-KhasThe hall of public grievances, Diwan-i-Am was used by Shah Jahan for domestic government business and features a throne room where the Emperor listened to petitioners. Nearby are the tiny Nagina Masjid and Ladies bazaar where women merchants sold goods to the ladies of the Mughal court. Diwas-i-Khas the hall of private audiences was reserved for important dignitaries and consists of two rooms connected by three arches. The famous Peacock Throne was housed here until Aurangzeb moved it to Delhi.
Musamman BurjThe exquisite Musamman Burj stands close to the Diwan-i-Khas and looks towards the Taj. It was here that Shah Jahan was imprisoned by Aurangzeb ending his days gazing over the Yamuna towards the mausoleum of his beloved wife. It is also known as the Saman Burj this tower was built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal and is another of his finely designed and executed buildings.
Jehangir's PalaceIt was build by Akbar for his son Jahangir. It was the largest private residence in the fort and displays an interesting blend of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles- a contrast to the unique Mughal style that had developed by the time of Shah Jahan. Hauz-i-Jehangri is a huge bowl beautifully carved out of the single block of stone. One legend says that Empress Nur Jahan made attar or perfumed essential oil of roses in the bowl.
Khas MahalShah Jahan's Khas Mahal is a beautiful white marble structure used as a private palace. The rooms underneath were intended as a cool retreat. The Shish Mahal is reputed to have been the harem dressing room and its walls are inlaid with tiny mirrors. The Anguri Bagh or Grape Garden was a small formal Mughal garden. It stood in front of the Khas Mahal.
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