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 until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. Before capture by the British, the last Indian rulers to have occupied it were the Marathas. In 1983, the Agra fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled city. Like the rest of Agra, the history of Agra Fort prior to Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasion is unclear. However in the 15th century, the Chauhan Rajputs occupied it. Soon after, Agra assumed the status of capital when Sikandar Lodi (A.D. 1487-1517) shifted his capital from Delhi and constructed a few buildings in the pre-existing Fort at Agra.

After the first battle of Panipat (A.D. 1526) Mughals captured the fort and ruled from it. In A.D. 1530, Humayun was crowned in it. The Fort got its present appearance during the reign of Akbar (A.D. 1556-1605).The fort was the site of a battle during the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, and led to a century of direct rule of India by Britain.

Construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1565 and completed in 1573, with approximately 4,000 builders working on it daily for eight years.

Shah Jahan, Akbar's grandson, added beautiful marble buildings within the fort, even demolishing some earlier structures to make way for them.

Shah Jahan was later imprisoned in the fort by his son Aurangzeb, where he could view the Taj Mahal, which he had built for his wife.

The fort is made of red sandstone, giving it a distinctive appearance. It features high walls, double ramparts with bastions, and a moat. Notable gates include the Delhi Gate (originally the main entrance) and the Amar Singh Gate (the current entrance). The Delhi Gate, a masterpiece from Akbar's time, includes a drawbridge and an inner Hathi Pol (Elephant Gate) for added security. The complex houses numerous buildings, including palaces like Jahangir Palace and Khas Mahal, audience halls like Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas, and beautiful mosques.


Agra Fort is located on the right bank of the Yamuna River.
It is situated about 2.5 kilometers northwest of the Taj Mahal.
Entrance to the fort is primarily through the Amar Singh Gate.
Tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance.

Today, the Agra Fort is one of the best forts in India and is a popular tourist destination in Agra after the Taj Mahal.In 2004, the Agra Fort had won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and to commemorate the win, a special stamp was issued by India Post. The fort complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort |  Taj Mahal