Anthony Lujan Photography Blog

Saturday, April 17, 2010 – Red Fort, Agra, India

We drove from Delhi to Agra so we can see Agra’s Red Fort and Taj Mahal. Today I want to share a some photographs from the Red Fort.

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 2.5 km northwest of its much more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled palatial city.

It is the most important fort in India. The great Mugals, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived here, and the country was governed from here. It contained the largest state treasury and mint. It was visited by foreign ambassadors, travelers and the highest dignitaries who participated in the making of history in India.

Here in India people are not used to seeing a blonde woman. Gillian was a hit! She was asked over and over to have her picture taken with people. It helped that she was from England. I had no idea how much England took part in India. You’ll see I captured a few photographs while she was posing with people.

This was originally a brick fort and the Sikarwar held it. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1487-1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. He governed the country from here and Agra assumed the importance of the 2nd capital. He died in the fort in 1517 and his son, Ibrahim Lodi, held it for nine years until he was defeated and killed at Panipat in 1526. Several palaces, wells and a mosque were built by him in the fort during his period.

After Panipat, Mughals captured the fort and a vast treasure – which included a diamond that was later named as the Koh-i-Noor diamond – was seized. Babur stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim. He built a baoli (step well) in it. Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Humayun was defeated in Bilgram in 1540. Sher Shah held the fort for five years. The Mughals defeated the Afghans finally at Panipat in 1556.

Realizing the importance of its central situation, Akbar decided to make it his capital and arrived in Agra in 1558. His historian, Abdul Fazal, recorded that this was a brick fort known as ‘Badalgarh’ . It was in a ruined condition and 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.

It was only during the reign of Akbar’s grandson, Shah Jahan, that the site finally took on its current state. The legend is that Shah Jahan built the beautiful Taj Mahal for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Unlike his grandfather, Shah Jahan tended to have buildings made from white marble, often inlaid with gold or semi-precious gems. He destroyed some of the earlier buildings inside the fort in order to make his own.

At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort, a punishment which might not seem so harsh, considering the luxury of the fort. It is rumored that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with an excellent view of the Taj Mahal.

This was also a site of one of the battles during the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company‘s rule in India, and led to a century of direct rule of India by Britain.

Many of the buildings inside the fort are now closed for the public. The marble pearl mosque inside the fort is one of the most stunningly beautiful mosques in India. The monuments insided the fort are described below in detail.

Diwan-e-Am

This structure was originally made out of wood but was later constructed in the present form by Shah Jahan. The throne room bears a clear influence of Shah Jahan style with the inlaid carvings and panels of marble with floral motifs. This hall of public hearing is the place where the Emperor heard the petitions of the public and met the officials. The hall of public hearing gives way to the Nagina Mosque and the Ladies bazar where only ladies merchants were allowed to sell items to the Moghal ladies.

Diwan-e-Khas

This was the hall of private audience. Shah Jahan added this hall. This hall is divided into two rooms connected by three arches and it was here that the famous peacock throne was kept before being shifted to Delhi by Aurangzeb and finally carried away to Iran.

Octagonal Tower

This exquisitely carved tower is close to the Diwan-e-Khas. It was here that Shah Jahan spent the last seven years of his life imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The tower was considered to provide one of the best views of the Taj but today pollution has reduced the visibility. The tower is in bad shape, but blank spaces and the empty inlay works give an idea how this building must have looked in those days.

Jehangir Palace

Akbar built this Palace for his favorite son Jehangir to provide him with all comforts and luxuries inside the fort.

Mina Masjid

Just above the Sheesh Mahal is situated the Mina Masjid, which is believed to be constructed by Shahjahan for strictly private use. The Mina Masjid is enclosed on all the four sides by high walls. The marble mosque has three small arches in its facade, which are plain and unadorned.

Moti Masjid

Moti Masjid is situated to the right of Diwan-E-Aam of the Agra Fort. One can see the domes of the Moti Masjid, which is the prettiest of all the buildings at Agra Fort. Moti Masjid is a white marble structure built by Shahjahan for his family members and court chiefs. Moti Masjid made out of white marble is one of the ancient mosques situated in Agra. It used to shine like a pearl once upon a time and hence the name.

Machhi Bhawan

Opposite to the Diwan-E-Khas is the machhi bhawan, the fish enclosure. The emperor sat on the white marble platform facing the enclosure. It once contained pools and marble fountains, which were carried off by the Jat Raja Suraj Mal to his palace at Deeg.

Sheesh Mahal

Opposite to the Mussaman Burj and just below the Diwan-E- Khas hall is the Sheesh Mahal or the glass palace. It is believed to to have been the harem dressing room and its walls are inlaid with tiny mirrors, which are the best specimens of glass mosaic decoration in India.

Jahangiri Mahal

This is the first notable building inside the Agra Fort. It was built by Akbar as women’s quarters and is the only building that survives among his original palace buildings. It is built of stone and is simply decorated in the exterior. This elegant, double storeyed building reflects a strong hindu influence with protruding balconies and domed chhatris.

Anguri Bagh

These formal 85 square geometric gardens lie to the left of the fort. During shahjahan’s time, the beauty of the gardens was considerably enhanced by decorative flower beds.

Golden Pavilions

The curved chala roofs of the small pavilions by the Khaas Mahal are based on the roof shape of Bengali village huts constructed out of curved bamboo, designed to keep off heavy rains. The shape was first expressed in stone by the sultans of Bengal. These pavilions are tradtionally associated with shahjahan’s daughters: Roshnara and Jahannara Begum.

Musamman Burj

On the left of the Khaas Mahal is the Musamman Burj. It is a beautiful octagonal tower with an open pavilion. With its openness, elevation and the benefit of cool evening breezees flowing in off the Yamuna River, this could be well have been used also as the emperor’s bedroom. This is where Shah Jahan lay on his deathbed, gazing at Taj Mahal.

Please be sure to follow along as I made my way through India:
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 – Out of office reply – off to India
Saturday, April 17 & Sunday, April 18, 2010 – Photographing out the window
Saturday, April 17, 2010 – The Red Fort, Agra, India
Saturday, April 17, 2010 – Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Sunday, April 18, 2010 – The City Palace, Jaipur, India
Sunday, April 18, 2010 – Jaigarh Fort Amber, Jaipur, India
Sunday, April 18, 2010 – Hawa Mahal & Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 – Lotus Temple, New Delhi, India
Saturday, April 24, 2010 – Red Fort, Old Delhi, India
Saturday, April 24, 2010 – Chandni Chowk, Naya Bazar, Old Delhi, India
Sunday, April 25, 2010 – In search of monkeys
Sunday, April 25, 2010 – Qutub Minar, South Delhi, India
Sunday, April 25, 2010 – India Gate, New Delhi, India
Monday, April 26, 2010 – 2:30 am Night Tour, Dubai

Anthony Lujan Photography
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