Agra Fort

An historical Mughal fort in the city of Agra which is also known as Agra's Red Fort

The Mughal dynasty was responsible for palace complexes described today as forts the most remarkable of these being the one at Agra - the capital of the Mughal empire. Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) founded a new fortress on the site of the fort of the defeated Lodi dynasty. The 22m (72ft) high walls surround a semi circular plan 2.5km (1.6mi) in circumferences two palaces from his reign each a compact design around a set of courtyards which originally backed onto the river. Stylistically the work is influenced by Timurid tradition (carved geometric surface decoration) and the domestic architecture of Hindu India.

When Shah Jahan reigned he replaced the palaces with his own white marble-clad buildings. He built the Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-am) in 1637 as an authority symbol. Behind the public building, he had private quarters and would be visited in a small pavillion - Shadh Burj. To the north of this complex was an octagonal tower today called Musammam Burj where Shah Jahan replaced the conventional tower with a full imperial pavillion decorated with white marble inlaid with precious stones and covered by a gilded copper dome.