India
Agra Fort
Agra Fort is a highlight in Indo-Islamic Mughal art and architecture.
The fortress enclosed the imperial city of the Mughal rulers, who ruled from there until 1638. Entered by monumental gates, it holds a large number of palaces and two white marble mosques. The original complex was built by Emperor Akbar in red sandstone; major monuments executed in marble were added by Shah Jahan in the 17th century.
Community Perspective: It lies close to the Taj Mahal and is better visited first, as otherwise, it can only disappoint. Visit it for an insight into the lifestyle of the Mughal rulers.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Agra Fort (ID: 251)
- Country
- India
- Status
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Inscribed 1983
Site history
History of Agra Fort
- 1983: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iii
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- asi.nic.in — Archaeological Survey of India
News Article
- Aug. 22, 2015 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Debris gone, archaeologists find passage in Agra Fort
- Nov. 19, 2014 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Army presence hampering conservation work in Agra Fort
- July 17, 2014 timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Army not to vacate Agra Fort after all?
Community Information
- Community Category
- Secular structure: Military and Fortifications
- Secular structure: Palace
Travel Information
Recent Connections
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Perfect Inscriptions
1983 -
Already inscribed still on T List
Also included within TWHS "Sites along … -
Foreigner prices
Indian Visitors:Total Rs.40.00 Citize…
Connections of Agra Fort
- Individual People
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Gertrude Bell
Photo taken 25 December 1902 -
Shah Jahan
It is rumored that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal (wiki) + Shah Jahani MahalSee en.wikipedia.org
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- Geography
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Ganges Basin
On banks of Yamuna River (joins the Ganges at Allahabad)
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- Trivia
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Viewable from another WHS
Can be seen from the terrace of the Taj Mahal -
Red Fort
Known as the Red Fort of Agra -
Sound and Light Show
since Feb 2011
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- History
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Eunuchs
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The British East India Company (EIC)
Was captured from the Marathas in 1803 by forces of the British EIC. They turned it into a garrison for EIC soldiers and demolished a number of the buildings inside. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against EIC rule the EIC forces were besieged inside the fort -
Located in a Former Capital
Agra, the former capital of Mughal Empire (1526 - 1658) -
Mughal Empire
The great Mughals Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived here, and the country was governed from here.
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- Architecture
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Gold Surfaces
Golden Pavilion -
Indo-Islamic architecture
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Octagons
Musamman Burj, a large, octagonal tower with a balcony facing the Taj Mahal
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- World Heritage Process
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Perfect Inscriptions
1983 -
Inscribed on a single criterion only
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared -
Already inscribed still on T List
Also included within TWHS "Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road" (site 72)
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- Religion and Belief
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Notable mosques
Mina Masjid (Heavenly Mosque), Pearl Mosque, Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque)
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- Constructions
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Harem
"North of this entrance sits the fort's largest private residence, the Jahangiri Mahal, built as a harem for Jahangir.
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- Timeline
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Built in the 17th century
significant for the Moghul rule in the 17th century (AB), current buildings were constructed during the reign of Shah Jahan 1628-1658
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- WHS Hotspots
- Visiting conditions
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Foreigner prices
Indian Visitors:Total Rs.40.00 Citizen of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries: Total Rs.80/- Other Foreign Visitor Total Rs.550/-See asi.nic.in
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News
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com 08/22/2015
- Debris gone, archaeologists find p…
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com 11/19/2014
- Army presence hampering conservati…
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com 07/17/2014
- Army not to vacate Agra Fort after…
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Community Reviews
Show full reviews
I agree with the general sentiment that the red fort and agra Fort are virtually indistinguishable. No doubt helped by the fact that both have significant historical overlap in their structures.
Weirdly enough, I remember agra Fort as more interesting than the red fort, but when checking back the photos I tend to like the red fort better. Overall I think both have a place in the list as examplary complexes. Imo the most diferenciating aspect, and one that I particularly enjoyed was the persistence of some akbarite architecture in Agra. In this sense I think Agra Fort showcases the changes in earlier mughal architecture much better than Delhi.
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Most visitors likely visit the place after seeing the Taj Mahal. This might impact the overall impression after visiting such an incredible monument. Nevertheless, the Fort is quite impressive, this is a huge fortification with several gardens and palaces inside it. Some buildings have nice views of the Taj Mahal far away. I visited the fort at 9.30 in the morning on a Saturday, there were no queues and I enjoyed visiting most of the places empty of visitors. No "official" guides outside the gate to offer their services, so overall very enjoyble experience.
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The Agra Fort is a huge fort very similar to the Red fort in delhi. To be honnest, i'm not able to distinguish either one if i had two pictures in front of me. But, contrary to the red fort, i visited this one.
It's quiet interesting but not so much beautiful compared to all the indian monuments they can build. I mean it's not the best souvenir i had in India. However, the size of the red stones are impressive. And it's rare i guess: you can see another WHS from this WHS! It's obviously the famous Taj Mahal, along the Yamuna river. We could start a thread on the forum about such possibility: to see a WHS from another one? :) (maybe it already exists, i didn't verify)
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Similar to the Red Fort in Delhi but still worth visiting. I visited this WHS in December 2011 and was struck by the architecture of this site, especially the several arches adorning the courtyards. Beware of the seemingly innocent monkeys around the site. My camera zoom lens was split-seconds away from being bitten by one of the monkeys, but as soon as I was pressing the button to take a picture I noticed a sudden movement and luckily my instinct told me to move sideways. That way the monkey attack wasn't successful and instead I ended up with a very close-up photo of an angry monkey showing off its fangs!
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Agra Fort, an enormous red sandstone fortress on the bank of Yamuna River in the center of Agra. This fort is not just a military fortress, but also an imperial palace that was a power center of the whole Mogul Empire.
I visited Agra Fort on such a very important day, the day that Taj Mahal celebrated her 350th birthday. The celebration for Taj Mahal, but Indians celebrated in Agra Fort! Why? The answer is Indian Supreme Court did not allow celebrating in Taj Mahal so the celebrations have to move to the Fort. I do not understand the logic, the court want to protect Taj Mahal, a world heritage site, but they allow a grand party in Agra Fort which also a world heritage site and should receive equally protection! When I visited, the Hall of Public Audience was full with electronic machines that will make light and sound for the party, a lot of chairs and many polices, it was a really messy place. Thankfully that all such mess was not expand to other areas, the palace was still amazingly calm and made my mood back to normal. The palace in Agra Fort can be divided into two sections based on material, red sandstone and marble. The red sandstone buildings mean they were built before Shah Jahan or early years of his reign, the marble means they were built by Shah Jahan, an emperor who built Taj Mahal. The marble sections are absolutely breathtaking with marble inlay with …
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The Agra Fort - the second of the city of Agra’s main tourist attractions – was founded in 1565 and is a virtual copy of the Red Fort in Delhi. My understanding is that the latter is now also underway to also become a World Heritage Site, which is not more than fair.
The Agra Fort is huge and still mainly occupied by the Indian Army. Its massive sandstone walls rise over 20 meters and 2,5 km in circumference. Inside the fort you find different palaces and semi-palaces, Harem quarters, Halls of Public and Private Audiences and everything else needed to run an Empire in 15th century India. And also the Musamman Burj, were the aging emperor Shah Jahan spent his last years and where he lay on his death bed, gazing at the distant Taj Mahal where his long lost love, Mumtaz Mahal was buried.
The Agra Fort is an interesting visit but one can’t help that after having visited Agra’s major attraction, the Taj Mahal, it’s hard to see the same beauty in this still very exquisite palace. My recommendation when visiting Agra is that you FIRST visit the Agra Fort and then the Taj Mahal. Otherwise the almost unreal beauty of the Taj might distance you completely from what beauty the Agra Fort actually has to offer you.
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