Agra and Its World Famous Monument Agra Fort

Agra is one of the most famous places of the world because of the presence of first wonder of world called ‘Taj Mahal’. But, Taj Mahal is not alone which makes Agra famous, there is a one more building which is witness of birth and establishment of Agra and is existing till today to be the witness of its development and that is Agra Fort. Agra Fort can also be said the elder sister of Taj because it was built long back before Taj. In the very beginning, Agra Fort was built by Chauhan Rajputs in the name of ‘Badalgarh’.

After Chauhan Rajputs, Agra Fort witnessed the reign of Sikandar Lodi who crowned Agra as the capital of country in 1517. After his death, his son Ibrahim Lodi ruled over country from Agra for 9 years. After the defeat of Ibrahim Lodi by Babur in the battle of Panipat, Agra Fort was introduced with Mughals. It was not built in the particular duration of time because who so ever won Agra and lived in Agra Fort made changes according to him. In starting it was completely made up of bricks but gradually in the reign of Akbar and till Shah Jahan it was adorned with red sandstone and then with white marble.

Mughlas captured the entire valuable in palace including the precious diamond which is now known as Koh-i-Noor diamond. Babur crowned his son Humayun in 1530 in Agra Fort. Sher Shah also ruled over Agra for 5 years by defeating Humayun. Mughals again came into existence by defeating Afghans, eventually. Akbar got Agra Fort reconstructed with red sandstone because the brick fort named Badalgarh was in ruined condition when Akbar decided to shift its capital from Delhi to Agra. It took eight years to get it completed with the help of 1,444,000 workers and finally it was completed in 1573. Akbar built a palace for his son Jahangir in it and later some other small buildings were built in it with white marble in the reign in Shah Jahan. It was Shah Jahan who introduced white marble to India and Agra Fort as well as most of the buildings of white marble were built in Shah Jahan’s reign only.