Location : Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Major Attractions : Jehangir Mahal, Khas Mahal, Musamman Burj
Best time to Visit : October to March
STD Code : (91) - 562
Timings : Open everyday from 6 AM to 5:30 PM


Agra Fort - The Marvel in Red
An unmatched architectural wonder, a king's final resting place and Mughal Empires one of the most beautifully built monuments...all these statements are substitutable with Agra's priced historical possession, the Red Fort. The crescent shaped citadel stands overlooking a bend in the river Yamuna, just 2 km from the glorious monument of love, the Taj Mahal. The foundation stone of this dream structure of Emperor Akbar was laid in the year 1565 and required the untiring efforts of thousands of labourers and artisans to be finally finished by the time of Shahjehan, the grandson of Akbar. The fortified city's colossal 2.5 km long double walls rise to a height of 69 feet and enshrine a maze of majestic palaces and red sandstone mosques intricately detailed with the best of Mughal craftsmanship.

The monolith structure displays the architectural affection and prowess of three generations of the greatest Mughal kings, Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjehan. Entrance to the Agra Fort was made possible from two sides, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate, however, at present the entrance is only through the Amar Singh Gate and tourist access is limited to the southern part, which also houses most of the buildings of tourist interest.

Do Not Miss Out On
Jehangir Mahal
As one enters the Amar Singh Gate and passes through a narrow passage, the first and the most pleasing sight before the eyes is that of the Jehangir Mahal. As the name suggests, the splendid palace was built by Emperor Akbar for his son Jehangir. An impeccable blend of the Hindu and central Indian architectural styles, the largest private residence in the fort is reached through a long passageway and opens out into a series of beautiful halls, intricately carved walls, stone carvings and gilded decorations. The Jehangir Mahal is also one of the very first structures built during the time of Akbar that remains intact as most of the others were demolished by successive rulers replacing them with other marble structures.

Khas Mahal
Built entirely of pure white marble, the Khas Mahal or special palace was commissioned by Shahjehan in 1637. The palace is a marvel of architecture with three pavillions, the central pavillion being used by the emperor as a sleeping chamber. The Angoori Bagh, situated below, consists of residential quarters for women on its three sides. Two impressive pavillions flank the sides of the palace, one built of white marble and the other made of red sandstone.

Musamman Burj
The octagonal tower was built by Emperor Shahjehan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The impressive structure overlooks the river Yamuna and provides the best view of the Taj Mahal from the entire Agra Fort. The Musamman Burj also gains importance in the fact that it is the same place where Emperor Shahjehan spent the last few days of his life looking at the Taj Mahal.

Diwan-i-Khas
It is amazing to ponder over the fact about how the Agra Fort was built taking every little detail into account. Diwan-i-Khas or the hall of private audience was meant to receive kings, dignitaries and ambassadors from other kingdoms into the Emperor's court. The three sided pavillion consists of a marble throne palace with a pair of black and white thrones. Entry inside the Diwan-i-Khas is not allowed presently.

Sheesh Mahal
The Sheesh Mahal or the glass palace is situate opposite the Musamman Burj at the north eastern end of the Khas Mahal. The walls of the entire structure are inlaid with tiny mirrors and was meant to be used as a dressing room by the ladies of the royal household. Two large halls, each measuring 11.15 mts X 6.40 mts are connected in the centre by an extensive arched opening.

Other Structures
The fort also consists of several other prominent structures such as Macchhi Bhawan, a grand construction meant for harem functions, Hammam-i-Shahi, the airy apartment adjoining the residential quarters was used as a summer retreat, Diwan-i-Aam, the hall of public audiences was used by emperor Shahjehan to meet and discourse issues and problems of the common people. The Nagina Masjid and Moti Masjid are the two beautifully built mosques.

Accommodation
Some of the finest hotels in Agra are located in close proximity to the fort, providing excellent lodging and food facilities. Any of the easily available local means of transport can be availed to access the fort from your place of accommodation, besides all the good hotels provide their own paid accommodation to take the guests around. Some of the finest hotels in Agra include the Taj Khema, Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Welcome Group Mughal Sheraton, Taj View, The Trident and Agra Ashok.

Getting There
By Air : Agra's Kheria airport is situated on its outskirts, just 6 km from the city. Not many flights are available to and from Agra to other major Indian cities, so be sure to check prior availability of flights to avoid inconvenience. Indian Airlines office is located at the Kheria airport while the city office is located at Hotel Clarks Shiraz.

By Rail : Agra cantonment railway station is located south west of the city and connects Agra with most of the other major Indian cities through regular trains. Major trains connecting Agra with Delhi, Gwalior, Jhansi and Bhopal are the Taj Express and Shatabdi Express. Other railway stations in the city are Raja-ki-Mandi railway station and Agra Fort railway station.

By Road : The city is well connected by regular bus services to all the major neighbouring cities. State Transport Corporation operates buses to Delhi every hour and Jaipur every half hour. Choice of deluxe and simple buses is available. Internal transport means include taxis, tempos, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws. Cycles can also be hired on hourly bases, though not highly recommended owing to the pollution and traffic conditions.

Distance from Major Cities

• Ajmer : 363 Km
• Bikaner : 553 Km
• Chandigarh : 440 Km
• Delhi : 203 Km
• Jaipur : 232 Km