Agra Fort
The well-known Agra Fort is two kilometers west of the Taj Mahal on the banks of the River Yamuna. Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal Emperors, initiated the construction of the majestic red sandstone fort in Agra in 1565 when he was just 23 years old. However, after Akbar’s death, his son Jahangir and grandson Shah Jahan made some addition, to this 3-kilometer-long fort.
The Entry to the Agra Fort is from the south through the Amar Singh gate. From here, a long elephant ramp leads through a garden to the main section containing palaces, audience halls and mosques built by all three emperors. In the south lies a solid red sandstone Jehangiri Mahal incorporating numerous Hindu features; to the north lies the Anguri Bagh. Adjoining the central Khas Mahal is the Musamman Burj where- Shah Jahan died gazing at the Taj Mahal. To the west of the Macchi Bhavan is the beautiful Diwan-e-Aam. At the end lies Nagina Masjid and Meena Bazaar, both built for the women of the harem.
