An unmatched architectural wonder, a king's final

resting place and one of the most beautifully built

monuments...
AGRA FORT
AMER SINGH GATE
AGRA FORT
The Agra Fort, one of the widely recognized architectural
marvels of the Mughal period has its origin in the Badalgarh
Fort.

The foundation stone of this dream structure of Emperor
Akbar was laid in the year 1565.

The Fort was completed with its loopholes (sang andaz) in the
space of eight years 1565 -73.

It was the seat of power of the great Mughal Emperors, who
lived here and governed the country.

The fort was rebuilt with red sandstone, involving a massive
workforce of 14, 44,000 builders.







HISTORY OF AGRA FORT
AGRA FORT
Agra Fort is built on the KarmukaKhadaga plan,
according to norms laid down in Shilp Shastra.

The plan is semicircular, like a bow, with the straight line of
fortification running parallel to the river Yamuna.

Karmuka [literally meaning a bow] in the ancient Indian
Vastu texts is regarded as best suited for a king since it is
fortified by strong walls with bastions and surrounded by a
moat.

An interesting mix of Hindu and Islamic architecture can be
seen here.

Images of living creatures - dragons, elephants and birds,
instead of the usual patterns and calligraphy
ARCHITECTURAL FACTS
AGRA FORT
AGRA FORT
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Agra Fort has strong and lofty surrounding walls.

Each wall is 70m.high and is separated by a 12 m. deep
moat, near Amar Singh Gate with two lookout towers,
forming the entrances to the Fort.

The supporting arch, is crowned with a large blind arch
flanked by false painted windows, decorated with Hat relief
and geometrical designs.

The Fort is provided with four gateways.

The Agra Fort is a reflection of Akbars personality; robust,
dynamic and imaginative.
AGRA FORT
The Fort is consist of these structure-

AMER SINGH GATE (Akbar Darwaja)
DELHI GATE
AKBARI MAHAL
JEHANGIRI MAHAL
KHAS MAHAL
DIWAN-I-AM (Hall of Public Audience)
DIWAN-I-KHAS (Hall of Private Audience)
MUSAMMAN BURJ
MACHCHHI BHAWAN
ANGURI BAGH
NAGINA MASJID
MOTI MASJID
BANGALI BURJ
BAOLI


DELHI GATE- 1568-69
AGRA FORT
Built between- 1565-69

The ruins of Akbari Mahal (meaning Akbar's Palace) are a testimony to the
presence of the huge imperial courts surrounded by a series of spacious chambers.

Its between Jehangiri Mahal and Bengali Burj.

It was once part of a larger palace complex and was used for residential purposes.

It had a large stone paved courtyard enclosed on all sides by suites and
chambers.

One can still see the few suites on the eastern side of the courtyard that have
survived the rigors of time.

There was a great Assembly hall with a high ceiling on the lower storey.

In present it can still be seen but the upper storey is completely in ruins.

It also had a hall with triple opening on the riverside.
AGRA FORT
THE RUINS OF THE AKBARI MAHAL AGRA FORT
The Akbari Baoli near the Bangali Burj.

It is actually a well with five rows of rooms round it
and steps leading to the water.


The Bengali Burj to its southeast has a spacious square
hall with arched aisles.

It has a domed ceiling and chevron design grace the
nook-shafts of the arches.
Built between 1565-69

It has an impressive faade facing an open court to the west.

It has an arched portal with two beautiful Jharokhas, a series of
ornamental arches and an octagonal tower on its either side.

There is a complex arrangement of rooms, halls, corridors,
galleries and verandahs in the palace, around a square central
courtyard.

The main portal leads to a square entrance hall with ribs-and-
panels vaulted ceiling.

The court showcases skillfully carved brackets supporting
chhajja, a whispering gallery in the second storey and the jalied
balustrade crowning each faade.

A square chhatri on top of each faade looks quite impressive.

AGRA FORT
EXTERIOR FACDE OF JEHANGIRI MAHAL AGRA FORT
INTERIOR VIEW OF JEHANGIRI MAHAL AGRA FORT
BRACKETS DETAILS OF JEHANGIRI
MAHAL
AGRA FORT
INTERIOR ASILS DETAIL OF JEHANGIRI
MAHAL
AGRA FORT

Built between 1631-40 by shah jehan

It is Built by Shah Jehan for his two favorite daughters
Jahanara and Roshanara.

It has a beautiful tank in front with fountains, white
marble pavilions and open courts

The richly ornamented ceilings of the palace are flat
and the complex has stylishly carved and molded
brackets.
AGRA FORT
EXTERIOR VIEW OF KHAS MAHAL AGRA FORT
INTERIOR ORNAMENTATION OF KHAS
MAHAL
AGRA FORT

Built between 1631-40

It is situated close to Machchhi Bhawan.

The huge assembly hall measuring 201' by 67' has flat roof and
two arched red sandstone gateways to the north and south.

The faade has an arcade with nine bold arches and the hall is
divided into three aisles.

The building was constructed in red sandstone, yet it had been
plastered with white shell plaster to resemble the white marble.

A raised rectangular chamber was ostentatiously ornamented.
Made in marble, this 'jharokha' with a three-arched opening and
inlaid with precious stones, was known as the 'Takht-i-Murassa' (the
Throne Room).

The marble dias below the 'Takht-i-Murassa was known as
'Baithak'.

AGRA FORT
EXTERIOR VIEW OF DIWAN-I-AM AGRA FORT
INTERIOR VIEW OF DIWAN-I-AM AGRA FORT

Built in 1635

It had two halls and the interior hall was known as Tambi
khana.

Diwan-i-Khas had a flat wooden flat ceiling covered with
gold and silver leaves in relief to imitate the rays of the sun.

The Persian inscription inside the interior hall inlaid in
black stone and dated 1636-37 compares the room to the
highest heaven and the emperor to the sun.

The chambers were profusely decorated with highly
refined inlay work in floral patterns on the borders of the
dados and exquisite carvings in the middle in relief.
AGRA FORT
VIEW OF DIWAN-I-KHAS AGRA FORT
MACHCHHI BHAWAN
Situated in front of the Diwan-i-Khas.

It has a spacious courtyard with entrance to its north and
double-storeyed arched galleries on the other three sides.

An open terrace with a white and a black marble throne. The
black throne has a skillfully carved inscription dating back to
1602.

The stucco relief work is one of the masterpieces and the
intermediary space between the stone brackets of the upper
storey chajja is adorned with fine white lime into delightfully
molded designs.

Stuccowork in fine white plaster adorns the bay attached to
the throne pavilion and adorning the vaults and ceilings is done
so marvelously that they seem to be made of chiseled marble.
AGRA FORT
INTERIOR DETAIL OF MACHCHHI
BHAWAN
AGRA FORT
COLUMN DETAIL OF MACHCHHI
BHAWAN
AGRA FORT

Built between 1648-54

The Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque stands on the ground that slopes from
east to west to the north of Diwan-I-Am complex.

It had pearly white marble interiors. and exteriors of the mosque seem to be
made of brick.

The marble tank situated centrally in the court and the sundial made up of
an octagonal marble pillar in one of its corners are quite impressive.

The main entrance of the mosque is much larger and more beautiful than
the subsidiary gates that had arches and three square chhatris crowning them.

The main gateways are in red sandstone exterior and a marble interior.

There are seven beautiful square chhatris above the parapet and an
octagonal tower with a marble cupola on top at each corner.


AGRA FORT
MOTI MASJID AGRA FORT
Built between 1631-40

Nagina Masjid or the Gem Mosque is made up of pure
white marble

The mosque has a three-arched faade with the cusps
and supported on slender piers as its entrance

The three bulbous domes are crowned by inverted
lotus and finials and the central one is larger than the
other two.

AGRA FORT
INTERIOR VIEW OF NAGINA MASJID AGRA FORT
Built between 1631-40

It is also known as the Pachchisi Court.

The most notable traits of this tower is a projecting
jharokha on its eastern most side, an elegant marble screen
on the river front side, the vertical pillars and the horizontal
chhajja supported on beautiful brackets.

The inlay work on the pillars and dado panels of the
Musamman Burj depict stylish borders and carved plants in
the centre.


AGRA FORT
THE TAJ VIEW FROM MUSAMMAN BURJ
AND OCTAGONAL TOWER OF YHE BURJ
AGRA FORT
Built by Shah Jehan in 1637.

It was the principal square of the zenana apartments or the living area of
the royal ladies.

There was a marble paved platform with a fountain in its centre and the
garden itself was divided into compartments in intricate geometrical pattern.

As the name suggests, this garden was known for harvesting choicest of
grapes and flowers throughout the year.

It was designed to be a pleasant retreat or the paradise garden for the
royal ladies and ensured their complete privacy.

Hammams or imperial bathhouses adorned with exquisite wall paintings in
royal blue and gold were located to its northeast.

The tanks near the Jehangiri Mahal ensured the water supply to the ponds
and baths of this garden.

AGRA FORT
ANGURI BAGH
AGRA FORT
PREPERED BY- VIPIN BHATT, B.ARCH-
III
RD
YEAR
AGRA FORT