Why visit Agra Fort
- Agra Fort was the seat of the Mughal Empire
- World Heritage site
- Complex arrangement of magnificent palaces
The entrance to Agra Fort is from the south through the impressive Amar Singh gate. To its right is the so-called Jahangiri Mahal, the only major palace in the fort that dates back to Akbar's reign. This complex arrangement of halls, courtyards and galleries was Zenana or the main harem. Along the river front are the Khas Mahal an elegant marble hall with a vividly painted ceiling, characteristic of Shah Jahan's style of architecture and two garden pavilions with bangaldar roofs (curved roofs derived from bengali huts). The Sheesh Mahal and the royal baths are to the northeast, near the gloriously inlaid Musamman Burj, a double storied octagonal tower with clear views of the Taj, where Shah Jahan was said to be imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The Mina masjid was the private mosque of the emperor. The Diwan-i-khas is a lavishly decorated open hall with fine pietra dura work on its columns, where the emperor would meet his court. Opposite to it is the Machchhi Bhavan (Fish house) once a magnificent water palace. The Diwan - aam, an arcaded hall within a courtyard, with its throne-alcove of inlaid marble provided a sumptuous setting for the fabled Peacock throne.
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