Sibling to the Taj Mahal The Red Fort of Agra, has been practically named, but though they got the colour spot on, it’s more of a walled palatial city than a fort.

Arga Fort has a rounded layout facing towards the Yamauna River with 70 foot high walls protecting it from all sides and along 2.5 kilometers of riverbank. Gates tower, ornate, yet impenetrable, over the entry paths and drawbridges, designed to confuse an elephant lead military attack (one of the gates is guarded by stone elephants for good measure.). Inside is a grand city of audience halls, palaces for multiple kings and their harems, several mosques, some just for the kings private worship, some public, ancient public and governing buildings and beautiful planned gardens. These days entry is via the Amar Singh Gate.

There has been a fort on this spot for a thousand years but the layers of smooth red sandstone were only added in the 16th Century and the beautifully pristine, carefully carved white marble interiors were added 50 years later when Shan Jahan, took over the coffers and moved in. Poor Shan Jahan had built his own prison, his son locked him up in the fort for pining over his lost love and wife for whom he had built the Taj Mahal. Shan Jahan’s legacy also includes the gold and precious stone inlays. In some of his marble creations, water runs in channels behind the marble walls to keep them chilled.

The Agra Fort originally housed the treasury and the mint and with a license to print money, why not make something so exquisitely beautiful that foreign dignitaries and travellers would be impressed with its smooth detail. Its shape, though obviously created from Indian architectural traditions was also familiar enough to be appreciated by European eyes.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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