Dear LG Community,
I’m excited to start another series on a topic I’m passionate about : Heritage of India. This series is based on my recent heritage tour of Agra under the guidance of popular historian Sohail Hashmi.
Entrance to the Agra Fort
The 5th part of this series takes us to another popular place for tourists, The Agra Fort.
Amar Singh Gate
Brief History :
The fort has a long history. Sikandar Lodi built the first fort in this place in the late 15th Century. He is said to have demolished an old brick structure and built his fort. Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned here in 1530. It was later renovated by Akbar in 1565. It served as the Capital until 1638, post which the capital was shifted to Delhi. Later, it was ruled by the Marathas, before being captured by the British in 1803 during the second Anglo Maratha War.
I will skip the already known facts about various buildings inside the fort and share lesser known facts about the place. An important point to note here is that during and after the years of the First War of Independence in 1857, more than 80% of the structures were destroyed by the British. What we see today is a fraction of the original structures.
Interesting stories of the Fort :
- Akbar’s Palace had inbuilt structures inside the wells which would circulate cool air in the basement. Agra being very hot in the summers, these basement structures were essential to Mughals as they were not used to such harsh heat
- Persian water wheels were very important in supplying water to forts and palaces. They used to draw water from the Yamuna river. The only preserved Persian water wheel can be seen at the Amber Fort in Jaipur
- The British faced significant defeats against the Afghans in the first and second Anglo Afghan wars in the mid 19th Century. Lord Ellenborough, the Governor General of India between 1842 - 1844, commendeered an army known as Army of Retribution to take revenge of the Afghans. The army was instructed to recover a set of ornate sandalwood gates from the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni as the Britishers believed it was stolen from the Somnath Temple. It was a ploy by the British to promote divide and rule policy, dividing Hindus and Muslims. However, Hindu scholars declared is as a fake and now these gates are locked inside a room in the Agra Fort
- Abdul Rahman Chugtai made the famous painting of the last days of Shah Jahan when he was imprisioned inside the Agra fort by his son Aurangzeb. It was the image of a dying Shah Jahan in the arms of his loving daughter Jahan Ara
- During the quest for the throne, majority of the 49 Mansabdars of the Mughal court favoured Aurangzeb to succeed, rather than Dara Shukoh, as they felt Aurangzeb is better suited to rule
View of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort
Jahangir’s Palace, made out of marble
Musamman Burj, where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by Jahangir
The Diwan-i-Khas or the hall of private audience
Our customary group pic at the Agra Fort. Temperature was upwards of 40 Deg C.
Pro Tip : Avoid visiting during weekends and public holidays to avoid crowd. Best time to visit is from September till March. Hiring an authorized guide will make your visit more immersive.
Accessibility :
Tickets can be purchased online or through the ticket counter in the entrance
How to reach Agra :
- By Road : Agra is well-connected by road, notably via the Yamuna Expressway from Delhi, which offers a smooth and quick journey. You can travel by private car, taxi, or numerous bus services from surrounding cities.
- By Air: Agra has its own airport, Kheria Airport (AGR), which is primarily a military base but offers limited commercial flights, mainly connecting to Delhi. Many travelers opt to fly to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and then travel to Agra by road.
Recommended Stay Option :
- Hotel Maple Ridge
I stayed at this hotel, it is pocket friendly and easily accessible by Metro, centrally located.
Cover Image created using GeminiAI.
Link to my previous posts in this series :
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 1
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 2
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 3
- Step Back in Time : Your Guide to Agra’s Historical Places - Part 4
I will be back soon with the next episode in this series…
you so much for sharing with all of us 
Your storytelling combined with rare historical insights makes this 5th part of your Heritage of India series an absolute delight to read. 