Agra Fort

Agra Fort is a 16th-century Mughal fort on the banks of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, about 2.5 km northwest of the Taj Mahal. Built primarily by Emperor Akbar from 1565 to 1573 and later expanded by Shah Jahan, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The massive red sandstone fort encloses palaces, mosques, audience halls and gardens, showcasing Mughal architectural evolution.

Visitors enter through Amar Singh Gate and explore a large walled complex of red sandstone and white marble structures. Inside are palaces such as Jahangiri Mahal and Khas Mahal, audience halls Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas, Sheesh Mahal, Musamman Burj with views of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna, Moti Masjid, and landscaped gardens. The site includes a museum, ramparts, courtyards and interpretive signage, with guided tours available.

Agra Fort was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565 and completed in 1573, built on the site of an earlier brick fort. It served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors until 1638 when the capital shifted to Delhi. Shah Jahan added marble palaces, mosques and audience halls. The fort was the site where Shah Jahan was confined by his son Aurangzeb in Musamman Burj until his death in 1666. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The fort is a prominent example of Mughal architecture showing evolution from robust red sandstone construction under Akbar to refined white marble work under Shah Jahan, blending Islamic, Persian, Timurid and Hindu elements. It remains a major cultural and heritage landmark of Agra and a symbol of Mughal era art, architecture and courtly life.