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The Agra Fort is a 16th-century red sandstone fort. It is located in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Established by the Mughal emperor Akbar, the Agra Fort served both as a military base and a royal residence. The fort features the majestic allure of Mughal architecture. Moreover, it lies on the banks of the Yamuna River and is connected to Agra’s world-famous Taj Mahal by gardens. Did you know that the Agra Fort has a majestic Palace of Mirrors or the Sheesh Mahal with thousands of small mirrors? Read this blog to discover more interesting facts about Agra Fort for kids.
Unknown Facts About Agra Fort
1. Agra Fort was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty till 1638.
2. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
3. It is located at a distance of 2.5 km from the Taj Mahal.
4. Babur stayed in the fort after his victory in the First Battle of Panipat. He also constructed a baoli.
5. Babur’s successor, Humayun, was crowned in the Agra Fort in 1530. He was later defeated by Sher Shah Suri in 1540.
6. Thereafter, Suris conquered the fort till 1555, when Humayun finally recaptured it.
7. According to Akbar’s historian, Abul Fazi, the Agra Fort was a brick fort known as Badalgarh. It was in a devastating condition and Akbar had to rebuild it using red sandstone.
8. The Fort was captured by the Maratha Empire in the early 18th century.
9. Aurangzeb detained and captured his father Shah Jahan in the Agra Fort for eight years in an octagonal tower, known as Mussaman Burj.
10. In 1803, Marathas lost the Fort to the British forces during the Second Anglo-Marathan War.
11. Agra Fort was used as a battle site during the Indian rebellion of 1857, which eventually led to the end of the British East India Company’s rule in India.
12. The Yamuna River originally flowed along the straight eastern edge of the fort. It is possible that the emperors had their own bathing ghats.
13. The Diwan-i-Khas of Agra Fort once housed Shah Jahan’s legendary Peacock Throne with precious stones.
14. It is believed that a large part of the fort was converted into army barracks by the British.
15. There are two primary access points in the walls including the Amar Singh Gate facing south and the Delhi Gate facing west.
16. Agra Fort houses the famous Jahangir’s Palace which was built by Akbar for his son. It is also the largest residence of the complex.
FAQs
The Agra Fort is a red sandstone fortress. It includes numerous palaces where loved once bloomed, like the Jahangir Palace, the Khas Mahal, and the Diwan-i-Khas.
Mughal emperor Akbar constructed the popular Agra Fort somewhere around 1565 AD. According to Akbar’s historian, Abul Fazi, the fort was actually a brick fort known as Badalgarh. He found it in a bad condition and had to rebuild it using red sandstone.
The correct answer is Akbar. He built the initial structures until his grandson Shah Jahan subsequently took over the fort and made numerous other additions.
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