Agra Fort, 16th century fort in Agra, India
Agra Fort is a large red sandstone fortress built on a bend of the Yamuna river in northern India. Behind its high walls lie several levels of courtyards, palace halls, and open pavilions arranged across a broad compound.
Construction began in the mid-1500s under the Mughal rulers, who replaced an older fort with a new seat of power. Over the following generations, the compound shifted from a center of government to a place of confinement during struggles within the ruling family.
School groups and families move through the courtyards at all hours, giving the site a lively everyday feel. Toward evening, visitors tend to gather on the terraces that face the river to watch the light shift across the red stone walls.
The main entrance is on the western side, and the visit naturally flows from there through a series of courtyards and halls. Plan for at least two hours if you want to reach the far pavilions and the riverside terraces.
From a small pavilion in one corner of the compound, you can see the outline of the Taj Mahal across the river on clear days. This is said to be the spot where an aging emperor spent his final years under house arrest, looking out at the tomb he had built for his wife.
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