AGRA FORT

• Agra Fort is a historical fort in the city of Agra in

India. It was the main residence of the emperors
of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638, when the capital
was shifted from Agra to Delhi. The Agra fort is
a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is about 2.5 km
northwest to the monument, Taj Mahal. The fort
can be more accurately described as a walled city.

• The present-day structure was built by the

Mughals, though a fort had stood there since at
least the 11th century. Agra Fort was originally a
brick fort known as Badalgarh, held by Raja Badal
Singh Hindu Sikarwar Rajput king (c. 1475). After
the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Mughals
captured the fort and seized a vast treasure,
including the diamond later known as the Koh-i-
Noor.
• Agra Fort loacated in Agra, Uttar Pradesh is a UNESCO
world heritage site, it represents the first major building
project of Akbar, with remains of only a few buildings built
by him which now survive. Built on the site of an earlier
castle in AD 1565-1575, the fort, apart from other
important units, contains Jahangiri Mahal, Khass Mahal,
Diwan-i-Khass, Diwan-i-Am, Machchhi Bhawan and Moti
Masjid. Many extant buildings were erected by Shah Jahan
(AD 1630-1655).

• The Agra Fort has strong and lofty surrounding walls. Each
wall is 70 m .high and is separated by a 12 m. deep moat,
near Amar Singh Gate with two lookout towers, forming
the entrances to the Fort. The supporting arch, of modest
dimension compared to the structure, is crowned with a
large blind arch flanked by false painted windows. It is
decorated with Hat relief and geometrical designs.
SITE PLAN

Agra Fort was originally a brick fort , held by

the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs . The 94‐acre
(380,000 m2) fort has a semicircular plan, its
chord lies parallel to the river and its walls are
seventy feet high . Double ramparts have
massive circular bastions at intervals , with
battlements , embrasures, machicolations and
string courses. Four gates were provided on its
four sides.

There four gates were:-

1. Khizri Gate
2. Amar Singh Gate
3. Delhi Gate
4. Ghazni Gate (Abandoned)
1. Khizri Gate
• Khizri gate, also known as water gate, is in front of the river.

2. Amar Singh Gate (Lahore Gate)

The gate has a drawbridge over the moat. On both sides of the gate, there are octagonal
towers one on each side. The gate also has Naubat Khana which has pillared pavilions
around it. The bastions on the gate are topped with chhatris along with inverted lotus.
3. Delhi Gate
• Akbar built the Delhi Gate between 1568 and 1569.
Delhi Gate is on the western side and is the most
sophisticated in comparison to other gates. This
was the main entrance during the time of Akbar so
for the security purpose, a draw bridge was made
to cross the moat. The draw bridge can turn to 90
degree between outer and inner gates. There were
sharp curves at the entrance to prevent invasions.
DELHI GATE

• Hathi Pol is the inner gateway having one stone

elephant on each side for security. The fort has
double ramparts with circular bastions which are
placed at regular intervals. Besides these trap
points, ramps were also made for preventing
invasion. The bastions of the gate are also very
high.
HATHI POL
AKBARI MAHAL
PLAN
• At the southeast corner of the Agra Fort, overlooking the river are the remains of the Akbari
Mahal. The oldest building of the Fort originally had a portico (deorhi) on the western side whose
lower walls still exist. The portico opens into the spacious rectangular courtyard paved with red
sandstone slabs.

• The courtyard, surrounded by large living rooms and a double storied pavilion is connected with
rooms on the eastern side with flat roofs. The interior hall has several windows overlooking the
river. The style of architecture of the pavilion and the rooms is of trabeated order; four- centered
arches, placed aesthetically are used as decorative arcading. The walls are notable for stone carvings
and double brackets.
JAHANGIRI MAHAL

PLAN
• The Jahangiri Mahal, despite its name, was built by Akbar.The Jahangiri Mahal is the only portion of
the Fort walls, apart from the Gates, distinguished by the ornamental treatment accorded to its
eastern facade. The architectural setting of the Jahangiri Mahal is defined by clarity,simplicity and
integrity of its different components. Exquisite surface ornamentation includes marble inlay and
intricate geometrical and floral patterns.

• The large facade of the palace is most remarkable for its projecting portico, whose lotus parapet is
decorated with beautiful merlons in relief: A rectangular opening with carved panels and projecting
balconies supported on circular pillars. Elegant brackets with Bengal slanting roofs on both sides of
the deep, pointed, shapely arch are decorated with marble lined niches and six pointedstars.

• The monotony of the wide eastern walls is broken by a series of rectangular openings (darichas)
overshadowed by parapet walls with merlons and pillared ‘chhatris’ on both corner bastions. Below
are a series of marble inlaid outlines of rectangular panels and marble lined niches with lotus buds
and marble arches that spring from the elephant trunk. Below the niches are the square and
rectangular panels outlined by marble inlay work. The entire structure is constructed in ‘lakhauri’
bricks and veneered by finely dressed and carved red sandstone slabs on a one meter high plinth.
• Immediately next to the portico is a gallery, with a series of
apartments meant for lodging the royal maidservants. A service
window opens in the southern hall (Diwan Khana) with the walls
having space in between. beautifully carved brackets are decorated
with parrots and other birds. The upper storey is composed of a
series of fine arches, a central projecting balcony overshadowed by
‘chajjas’.

• There is a square, large open courtyard, around which western and

northern halls are arranged with flat, carved ceilings and deep niches
in the indigenous style of unparalleled sophistication and beauty.
There are rectangular chhatris on the centre of the facades. The first
floor of northern hall is supported by carved square pillars, brackets
and a flat ceiling supported by struts in the form of serpents.

• The veranda, leading to the second large courtyard, has a stone

flooring and supported by a low flat ceiling. The eastern opening is
supported by two beautiful, tall, carved pillars. In the centre of the
courtyard is an elegant octagonal cistern with a fountain whose inner
borders are decorated with lotusbuds.
DIWAN-I-AAM (Hall of PublicAudience)
• The Diwan-i-Aam, built in red sandstone on a raised
platform (1.25m) in a rectangular plan measuring
61.77 m by 20.12m. The total large pillars are 48.
Excludingthe corner ones ,there are 40 long pillars
over which the engrailed arches support the flat
stone roof.

• The Hall is open on three sides with multi foiled

arches, except the eastern side; within which is the
structure of the jharokha, the celebrated throne
[Takht-i-Murassa] which was the seat of the
Emperor for giving public audiences.

• These halls were first built in wood later replaced by

larger structures, painted with marble plaster.
DIWAN-I-KHAS (Hall of PrivateAudience)
• This elegant structure was constructed by Shah Jahan in
1636 as is evident by the Persian inscription.

• It consists of two large halls, an outer columned hall

and inner closed hall, both connected by three multifold
archways.

• The outer one measures 29.26 by 10.1m and the inner

one is 12.20 by 7.97 m. The outer hall, covered by a flat
roof is supported on multifold arches, springing from
exquisitely fine marble pillars.

• The facade is remarkable for its double pillared

arrangement with sophisticated floral bases and capitals,
richly decorated with inlay of semi precious stones.
ANGURI BAGH
• A large rectangular court measuring 67.6m by
52m in front of the Khas Mahal is the garden
laid out in the Char Bagh pattern with small
hexagonal grids of red sandstone. This garden
had dwarf plants of sweet fragrance and is
widely assumed and accepted that grapes
(angur) were also grown in this garden giving it
the present name.

• The north, south and west side of the garden is

surrounded by a double storied red sandstone
building finely plastered in white lime, having a
series of living, self-contained chambers ,having
cusped, arched openings, apparently used by the
inmates of theharem.
MUSSAMAN BURJ
• The outer verandah is supported on faceted,
embellished pillars whose openings provide a
panoramic view of the Taj Mahal and its
surroundings.

• The outer structure is also richly embellished,

particularly the graceful pillars. Capital beams and
friezes have delicate panels of scrolls with leaves,
flowers and buds. It is rightly considered to be the
gem of Indo-Islamic architecture in India.

• The dome of the Musamman Burj is gilded in gold

on copper sheets. Emperor Shah Jahan expired in
this octagonal chamber in 1666.
 SHEESH MAHAL
• The illustrious building of the ‘Sheesh Mahal’
(Palace of Mirror) is so named because of the fine,
profuse embellishment of mirrors on the arches,
walls and, the ceilings with irregular geometric and
floral patterns in thick stucco relief work, which
create a picturesque scene when candles were
lighted. It was constructed in 1637 and served as
the luxurious bath of the KhasMahal.

• The bath comprises of two chambers, each about

12m by 7m. The inner chamber has a marble tank
with a fountain and the second chamber has a
similar tank in the eastern wall.
• Originally the stucco reliefs were painted artistically
with mirror and gold.The floor of the chambers is of
white marble.

• The glass mosaic consists of stucco relief work in

the form of floral bouquets with natural leaves
and flowers emitting magnificently out of the
typically Indian ‘kalasa’ [rounded vessel with a
narrow base] with or without glass work,
producing a gorgeously superb effect. It’s been
done with a lakhauri bricks skeleton, covered with
a layer of fine lime plaster in mixture with gypsum,
which rendering it with extra-ordinary strength
and shine.
MOTI MASJID
PLAN
• The structure is externally made of red sand stone while the entire interior is finished in white
marble. It is one of the first Shah Jahani mosques at Agra in marble after the one built in the
Dargah of Hazrat Khawaja Moin -ud- Din Chisti at Ajmer.

• It is a single quadrangle with a central courtyard measuring 49m by 47m. The mosque (prayer
hall) measures 71m by 58m. There is a large tank (hauz) in the centre of the courtyard, measuring
3.5 sq. m.

• The arcaded cloisters (riwaq) on the northern, southern and eastern sides measure 11 feet in
width with a beautiful gateway in the middle of each one of them. These cloisters are built in
marble with typicalShah Jahani pillars andengrailed arches, shaded by projecting eaves. Both the
northern and southern gateways consist of ornamental ‘iwans’ and are crowned by three
square umbrellas [chhatris].

• The double-storeyed main, eastern gate [Imperial Gate] is larger and more monumentally
composed than the gates in the north and southern side. There are octagonal towers attached
to the corners, which are surmounted by corresponding ‘chhatris’. The prayerhall on the western
side of the court is three bay deep with seven arched openings of cusped arches. The facade is
protected by wide eaves.