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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.
Contents
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.
Also Read: Facts About Uttar Pradesh Which Will Make You Want to Travel Here
10 Lines on Agra Fort
These are ten lines on Agra Fort that you must read
- Emperor Akbar started the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565. The aim was to make it a military structure.
- Over the generations, several Mughal emperors added to the fort and changed it into a magnificent palace complex.
- Shah Jahan (the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal) added white marble to the palace structures.
- The fort houses several buildings, like Moti Masjid, or Pearl Mosque, known for its pristine white marble.
- Sheesh Mahal, or Mirror Palace, is one of the architectural designs in the palace. The Mahal is its intricate mirror mosaics.
- The Khas Mahal, an elegant white marble palace was the private residence of Shah Jahan inside the fort.
- The fort was designed with a deep moat that was filled with Yamuna River water and even crocodiles for defence.
- The architecture showcases a blend of Persian, Islamic, and indigenous Indian styles
- The vast fort complex is spread across an area of approximately 94 acres.
- Originally, the fort was built in a crescent shape. Its eastern wall used to face the Yamuna River.
5 Fun Facts About Agra
These are 5 interesting facts about Agra that you must know.
- Besides the Taj Mahal, Agra is home to 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
- Agra city is famous for its sweet delicacy called “petha,” a soft, translucent candy.
- Agra used to be the capital of the Mughal Empire under emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan.
- The city is known as the “City of Taj” due to the iconic presence of the Taj Mahal.
- The city is popular for its leather industry and produces a variety of leather goods for trade.
Also Read: Emperor Akbar: History, Life, Achievements
What is the Difference Between Agra Fort and Red Fort?
The Agra Fort and the Red Fort are completely different forts. The Agra Fort was built by Akbar as a military stronghold and royal residence. The Red Fort was constructed later on by Shah Jahan as a ceremonial and political centre. The Red Fort served as a ceremonial and political centre.
| S.No | Feature | Agra Fort | Red Fort |
| 1 | Location | Agra, Uttar Pradesh | Delhi |
| 2 | Built By | Emperor Akbar | Emperor Shah Jahan |
| 3 | Construction Period | 1565–1573 | 1638–1648 |
| 4 | Primary Material | Red sandstone | Red sandstone with white marble inlay |
| 5 | Purpose | Military stronghold and royal residence | Ceremonial and political center |
| 6 | UNESCO World Heritage | Yes (since 1983) | Yes (since 2007) |
| 7 | Notable Structures | Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Am | Diwan-i-Khas, Rang Mahal |
| 8 | Architectural Style | Indo-Islamic with Rajput elements | Mughal with Persian and Timurid influence |
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.
The Red Fort in Delhi was built by Shah Jahan in 1639. The fort was the main residence for the Mughal emperors for 200 years since the capital moved from Agra to Delhi. Every year on Independence Day, the PM hoists our national flag at the Red Fort. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses several museums within its complex.
The Agra Fort was the main residence of Mughal emperors till 1638. Today, it is a main UNESCO World Heritage site.
The emperor Akbar is buried at the Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandara,in Uttar Pradesh. His mausoleum is situated on the outskirts of Agra City. During his lifetime, he had built the tomb and a beautiful garden.
Hope you had fun reading these interesting facts about Agra Fort. If you like reading about facts, you can visit our interesting facts page to read more such blogs.
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