ARCHITECTURE HISTORY OF AGRA FORT

1. AGRA FORT
Introduction Agra Fort located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh is a UNESCO world
heritage site, it represents the first major building project of Akbar, with
remains of only a few buildings built by him which now survive. Built on the
site of an earlier castle in AD 1565-1575, the fort, apart from other
important units, contains Jahangir Mahal, Khass Mahal, Diwan-i-Khass,
Diwan-i-Am, and Moti Masjid. Many extant buildings were erected by Shah
Jahan (AD 1630-1655). The present-day structure was built by the Mughals,
though a fort had stood there since at least the 11th century. Agra Fort was
originally a brick fort known as Badalgarh, held by Raja Badal Singh Hindu
Sikarwar Rajput king (c. 1475). After the First Battle of Panipat in 1526,
Mughals captured the fort and seized a vast treasure, including the
diamond later known as the Koh-i-Noor.

2. 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, of modest
dimension compared to the structure, is crowned with a large blind arch
flanked by false painted windows. It is decorated with Hat relief and
geometrical designs. The Fort is provided with four gateways. From the
foundations to the battlements, the fortress is composed of hewn stone, each
polished to a mirror like sheen and with its red hue were so well joined
together, that it is said that even “the end of a hair could not find place
between them”. The Fort was completed in about eight years time (1565 -73)
under the supervision of Qasim Khan Mir Barr-wa-Bahr. The Agra Fort stands on
a plain ground, unlike a hill fort, but is structured to be impregnable by the
skilful use of architectural stratagems. The lower ramparts , a battlement
parapet, has oblong merlons and slope forward to render scaling by besiegers
impossible and are alternated by embrasure machicolations. The judicious and
harmonious combination of these features gives this fort a substantial aesthetic
character. Besides being a strong military structure, it is also a good example of
early Mughal architecture. The Agra Fort is a reflection of Akbar’s personality;
robust, dynamic and imaginative

3. AGRA FORT

4. SITE PLAN
Site Plan Agra Fort was
originally a brick fort , held by
the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs .
The 94‐acre (380,000 m2) fort
has a semicircular plan, its
chord lies parallel to the river
and its walls are seventy feet
high . Double ramparts have
massive circular bastions at
intervals , with battlements ,
embrasures, machicolations
and string courses. Four gates
were provided on its four sides,
one Khizri gate opening on to
the river. Two of the fort's gates
are notable: the "Delhi Gate"
and the "Lahore Gate."

6. The plan of the Amar Singh Gate is identical to that of the Delhi Gate and also
has a drawbridge over the moat. The main entrance viz. the Hathi Pol has an
open space at the Delhi Gate, having a magnificent court with overhanging
colonnades. The bastions of the Akbari Darwaza are smaller and less ornate.
Their lower portions are divided into oblong and arched panels, covered with
multi-colored, glazed tiles in beautiful geometrical designs. The panels of the
upper parts are plain. Each bastion is covered by an umbrella like structure
[chhatris] made of heavy piers instead of slender pillars, a circular overhang
[chajja], and with an inverted lotus, hemispherical cupola. A tall multi-storied
Gate of red sandstone on the eastern side, having a small pointed arched
entrance is built over a high plinth with a rectangular small platform supported
on stone brackets. The arch is outlined by white marble inlay work in geometrical
design. The facade of the Gate is flanked by two arched panels decorated with
marble inlay. There are square panels on both sides above which there is a long
rectangular panel with six small holes. Over these panels are three loopholes of
temple ‘shikhar’ style with a parapet of wide flame-like design. Amar Singh Gate
AMAR SINGH GATE

7. AMAR SINGH GATE

8. At the southeast corner of the Agra Fort, overlooking the river are
the remains of the Akbari Mahal. The oldest building of the Fort
originally had a portico (deorhi) on the western side whose lower
walls still exist. The portico opens into the spacious rectangular
courtyard paved with red sandstone slabs. The courtyard,
surrounded by large living rooms and a double storied pavilion is
connected with rooms on the eastern side with flat roofs. The
interior hall has several windows overlooking the river. The style of
architecture of the pavilion and the rooms is of trabeate order; four-
centered arches, placed aesthetically are used as decorative
arcading. The walls are notable for stone carvings and double
brackets. Akbari Mahal Plan
AKBARI MAHAL

9. AKBARI MAHAL

10. Jahangiri Mahal The Jahangiri Mahal, despite its name, was built by Akbar. The
Jahangiri Mahal is the only portion of the Fort walls, apart from the Gates,
distinguished by the ornamental treatment accorded to its eastern facade. The
architectural setting of the Jahangiri Mahal is defined by clarity, simplicity and
integrity of its different components. Exquisite surface ornamentation includes
marble inlay and intricate geometrical and floral patterns. The large facade of the
palace is most remarkable for its projecting portico, whose lotus parapet is
decorated with beautiful merlons in relief: A rectangular opening with carved
panels and projecting balconies supported on circular pillars. Elegant brackets with
Bengal slanting roofs on both sides of the deep, pointed, shapely arch are
decorated with marble lined niches and six pointed stars. The monotony of the
wide eastern walls is broken by a series of rectangular openings (darichas)
overshadowed by parapet walls with merlons and pillared ‘chhatris’ on both
corner bastions. Below are a series of marble inlaid outlines of rectangular panels
and marble lined niches with lotus buds and marble arches that spring from the
elephant trunk. Below the niches are the square and rectangular panels outlined
by marble inlay work. The entire structure is constructed in ‘lakhauri’ bricks and
veneered by finely dressed and carved red sandstone slabs on a one meter high
plinth.
JAHANGIRI MAHAL

11. JAHANGIRI NAHAL

12. DIWAN-I-AAM (Hall of Public Audience) Throughout the reign of Akbar,
Public [Diwan-i-Aam] and Private [Diwan-i-Khaas] audiences were held in
temporary wooden structures added with tents in the Agra Fort. An
arrangement that continued during the reign of Jahangir also. These halls
were first built in wood (Iwan_i_Chobin),later replaced by larger structures,
painted with marble plaster. Shah Jahan's historians and poets described
the Audience Hall as ‘Iwan_i_DaulatKhana-wa-Khass-o-Am’ or Hall of
Private Audiences and ‘Iwan-i-Chehil Sutun’ of Forty-pillared Hall, which was
the Diwan_i_Aam. The Diwan-i-Aam, built in red sandstone on a raised
platform (1.25m) in a rectangular plan measuring 61.77 m by 20.12m. The
total large pillars are 48.Excluding the corner ones , there are 40 long pillars
over which the engrailed arches support the flat stone roof. The Hall is open
on three sides with multi foiled arches, except the eastern side; within
which is the structure of the jharokha, the celebrated throne [Takht-i-
Murassa] which was the seat of the Emperor for giving public audiences
DIWAN-I-AAM

13. DIWAN-I-AAM

14. DIWAN-I-KHAS (Hall of Private Audience)
This elegant structure was constructed by Shah Jahan in 1636 as is evident by
the Persian inscription. It consists of two large halls, an outer columned hall
and inner closed hall, both connected by three multifold archways. The outer
one measures 29.26 by 10.1m and the inner one is 12.20 by 7.97 m. The
outer hall, covered by a flat roof is supported on multifold arches, springing
from exquisitely fine marble pillars. The facade is remarkable for its double
pillared arrangement with sophisticated floral bases and capitals, richly
decorated with inlay of semi precious stones. The walls and pillars of the hall
are finely embellished with 'petraduera' and 'dado' panels with relief carvings
of floral motifs. A Persian inscription in Nasta'liq script, inlaid in black marble,
on the southern wall of the Diwan-i-Khas eulogizes Emperor Shah Jahan for
his glorious and just reign. It also records that Emperor Shah Jahan had
suspended a ‘golden chain of justice’ for listening to the grievances of the
people for justice. Any person wishing his grievances to be heard could pull
on the chain attached to the bell and sound it to gain the emperors attention.
The Inner Hall, [Tambi Khana], has ‘Shah-Nashin’ alcoves with a raised seat
for the Emperor. The walls between the two halls have beautiful, intricately
carved screens [jaalis] gracefully designed and finished with floral patterns.

15. DIWAN-I-KHAS

16. A large rectangular court measuring 67.6m by 52m in front of the Khas
Mahal is the garden laid out in the Char Bagh pattern with small hexagonal
grids of red sandstone. This garden had dwarf plants of sweet fragrance and
is widely assumed and accepted that grapes (angur) were also grown in this
garden giving it the present name. The north, south and west side of the
garden is surrounded by a double storied red sandstone building finely
plastered in white lime, having a series of living, self-contained chambers
,having cusped, arched openings, apparently used by the inmates of the
harem. Anguri Bagh The outer verandah is supported on faceted,
embellished pillars whose openings provide a panoramic view of the Taj
Mahal and its surroundings. The outer structure is also richly embellished,
particularly the graceful pillars. Capital beams and friezes have delicate
panels of scrolls with leaves, flowers and buds. It is rightly considered to be
the gem of Indo-Islamic architecture in India. The dome of the Musamman
Burj is gilded in gold on copper sheets. Emperor Shah Jahan expired in this
octagonal chamber in 1666. Musamman Burj
ANGURI BAGH

17. ANGURI BAGH

18. Musamman Burj

19. The illustrious building of the ‘ Sheesh Mahal’ (Palace of Mirror) is so
named because of the fine, profuse embellishment of mirrors on the
arches, walls and, the ceilings with irregular geometric and floral patterns
in thick stucco relief work ,which create a picturesque scene when candles
were lighted. It was constructed in 1637 and served as the luxurious bath of
the Khas Mahal. The bath comprises of two chambers, each about 12m by
7m. The inner chamber has a marble tank with a fountain and the second
chamber has a similar tank in the eastern wall. Originally the stucco reliefs
were painted artistically with mirror and gold. The floor of the chambers is
of white marble. The glass mosaic consists of stucco relief work in the form
of floral bouquets with natural leaves and flowers emitting magnificently
out of the typically Indian ‘kalasa’ [rounded vessel with a narrow base] with
or without glass work, producing a gorgeously superb effect. It’s been done
with a lakhauri bricks skeleton, covered with a layer of fine lime plaster in
mixture with gypsum, which rendering it with extra-ordinary strength and
shine. Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal

20. Sheesh Mahal

21. MOTI MASJID

22. The structure is externally made of red sand stone while the entire interior is
finished in white marble. It is one of the first Shah Jahani mosques at Agra in
marble after the one built in the Dargah of Hazrat Khawaja Moin -ud-Din Chisti
at Ajmer. It is a single quadrangle with a central courtyard measuring 49m by
47m. The mosque (prayer hall) measures 71m by 58m. There is a large tank
(hauz) in the centre of the courtyard, measuring 3.5 sqm The arcaded cloisters
(riwaq) on the northern, southern and eastern sides measure 11 feet in width
with a beautiful gateway in the middle of each one of them. These cloisters are
built in marble with typical Shah Jahani pillars and engrailed arches, shaded by
projecting eaves. Both the northern and southern gateways consist of
ornamental ‘iwans’ and are crowned by three square umbrellas [chhatris]. The
double-storeyed main, eastern gate [Imperial Gate] is larger and more
monumentally composed than the gates in the north and southern side. There
are octagonal towers attached to the corners, which are surmounted by
corresponding ‘chhatris’. The prayer hall on the western side of the court is
three bay deep with seven arched openings of cusped arches. The facade is
protected by wide eaves. The superstructure of the mosque is remarkable for
its magnificent three bulbous domes of Shah Jahani style with seven square
kiosks (chhatris) crowning the facade of the building which add much to the
height and skyline of the mosque.

23. THANK YOU…..
SAYED HARUN
B.ARCH 2 YEAR