Agra Fort – Most Of The Buildings Within The Agra Fort Are A Blend Of Special Architectural Styles

RED FORT 

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AGRA

Agra Fort is a UNESCO World heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. It is about 2.5km northwest of its much more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal.

The Fort can be more accurately described as a walled palatial city. Akbar was the third Mughal emperor and undoubtedly the greatest. He was crowned the Mughal ruler in 1556 at the tender age of 14, when his father Humayun died suddenly.

Akbar  after consolidated his rule, he began constructing the Agra Fort. It worked both as a military strategic point as well as the royal residence.

Agra played an important center of Mughal Empire. It was in a ruined condition and Akbar decided to make it his capital and arrived in Agra in 1558 Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone.

Architects laid the foundation and it was built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external surfaces. Some 1,444,000 builders worked on it for eight years, completing it in 1573.

At the end of his life, his son Aurangzeb, in the fort, a punishment that might not seem so harsh, considering the luxury of the fort, imprisoned Shah Jahan. Nearly 500 Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed in a band on the riverfront.

The various buildings within this sprawling fort complex represent the assimilation of different cultures, which was the mark of the Mughal period. Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangiri’s Palace), the fort mainly served military purpose. While by the time of Shahjahan it also served as a palace and court. 

The Fort’s colossal double walls rise 20m in height and measure 2.5km in circumference. The Fort is surrounded by a moat. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor.

The Fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marbles built by two generations of prolific builders, Akbar and later on by Jahangir and Shahjahan.

Most of the buildings within the Agra Fort are a mixture of different architectural styles. The assimilation of these different styles has given the buildings within the fort a distinctive look.

For instance, the Jahangiri Palace built by Akbar is a good blend of Islamic (persian) and different local Hindu styles. Other buildings either have a mixed style or conform predominantly to the Islamic style.

By Air

Agra’s Kheria airport is also a military base. It is a seasonal commercial airport and is connected only by air india flights from New Delhi. The flight from Delhi to Agra is less than an hour long. Kheria airport is 13 km away from Agra city.

By Train

There are regular trains to Agra from cities like Delhi,Jaipur,Gwalior and Jhansi. Agra is also well connected to cities in other parts of the country. The main railway station is Agra cantt station. Taj Mahal and Agra Fort are a short distance away from Agra Cantt station.

By Bus

Agra is well connected by bus to cities like Delhi, Jaipur,Gwalior, Lucknow and Kanpur. Daily buses ply between these cities.

One Of The Best Examples of Mughal Architecture-Red Fort

RED FORT 

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NEW DELHI

Red Fort is located in the centre of Delhi. It was the royal residence of the Mughal Emperor for nearly two thousand years.

The fort was previously also known as ‘Qila-e- Mubarak’ or the Blessed Fort due to the fort being residence to the royal family. Spreading over an area of more than 250 acres of land, Red Fort was constructed with superior architecture than that of the Agra Fort by Shah Jahan.

 Red Fort held a significant focus in the time of Mughal Rule and is one of the best examples of apex of Mughal architecture and zeal for precision, grandeur and finesse reflected especially during the era of Shah Jahan.

British used the Fort as Army Cantonment and even liberated India used it for the Army till early years of the 21^st century, when Archaeological Survey of India was designated the task of restoration work of the Fort.

The Red Fort Delhi is a mesmerizing piece of architecture, lying on the banks of Yamuna River, whose water was used for the moat that surround the wall. The wall on north-eastern side is bordered by the Salimgarh Fort, built in 1546.

Red Fort Delhi Light and Sound Show is a one hour spectacle shown in Hindi & English language with a half an hour gap in between the two shows in an evening.

The show has been timed pleasantly in the evening with timing adjusted forward or backward by and hour or so according to the season.

 The entry ticket is also suitably priced at Rs. 60 for adults and Rs. 20 for children on weekdays and Rs. 80 for adults and Rs. 30 for children on weekends and public holidays.

Red Fort is the famous and largest historic monument in Delhi, thecapital of India. Every citizen of India can witness the speech delivered by the Prime Minister from the ramparts of Red Fort every year on the day of Independence i.e. August on 15th.

 Red Fort attracts a number of visitors every year including the tourists as well the citizens of Delhi.

By Air

 Delhi is the main gateway city for northern India with a modern airport. All major international airlines in the world fly through Delhi. Indira Gandhi International Airport is located at 23km southwest of Central Delhi and the domestic terminal at Palam is 5km away from the international terminal.

By Train

 Delhi is the hub of the Indian Railways network with Express trains to all parts of the country. The city has two major railway stations in New Delhi and Old Delhi. New Delhi station is within walking distance of Connaught Place and Main Delhi station is about 7km from Connaught Place. Delhi offers Express trains to all parts of the country.

By Bus

Buses from all the major places in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are available for getting to Delhi. During the summer months, air-conditioned coaches are recommended. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) operates special services from railway stations to different parts of the city.

 Netaji Subhash Marg, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110006