Shah Jahan's reign was the time when the current location of the Taj Mahal existed. Shah Jahan built Mumtaz Mahl's beautiful Taj Mahal as a memorial to his late wife. Shah Jahan handpicked white marble to his  grandpa red marble. He destroyed the older structures in the fort so he could build his.

For 13 years, the Jats controlled Bharatpur.. The Ratan Singh Ki Haveli was built in the fort. Early in the 18th Century, the Maratha empire invaded the Fort and captured it. The fort changed ownership several times over the years between Marathas, their allies and other rivals. Following their devastating defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) by Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Marathas withdrew from the region. Mahadji Shinde finally trapped the building Fort in 1785. The British took it from the Marathas in 1803 as part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

Fort was site of battles during Indian Rebellion in 1857. That rebellion ended British East India Company rule and brought about a century-long rule of India directly by Britain.

Layout

It has a semicircular layout, with a wall height of 70 feet and walls measuring 380,000m2. A double rampart is adorned with circular bastions that are arranged at regular intervals. They have battlements and other features such as embrasures. The rampart was provided with four gates, including one that opened to the Khijri.

There are two gates that stand out: "Lahore Gate" and "Delhi Gate". Lahore Gate also known as "Amar Singh Gate" in honor of Amar Singh Rathore.

Delhi Gate, the largest and most impressive of Akbar's gates that faces the city, on the western fort wall, is considered to be the masterpiece of Akbar. Built around 1568 it was both the ceremonial gate of the king and a means to secure him. Intricate inlay in white marble is used to decorate the gate. To cross the moat to reach the gate, a wooden bridge was needed. An inner gate called Hathi Pol (“Elephant Gate”) – with its life-size figures of elephants and two guardians - provided an additional layer. A drawbridge and slight climb between the outer gate and the inner gate make this entrance invulnerable. In sieges, elephants would be used to break the gates of a fort. The layout is designed to prevent this from happening, as it does not provide a flat, straight run up for speed.

Delhi Gate can't be opened by tourists because of ongoing military operations (especially the Parachute Brigade). Amar Singh Gate welcomes tourists.

The significance of this site in terms of architecture is immense. Abul Fazl claimed that the beautiful designs of Bengal and Gujarat were used to build five hundred buildings. Shah Jahan destroyed a few to make his marble-white palaces. Most were destroyed between 1803-1862 by British East India Company (BOC) soldiers to make their barracks larger. Only thirty Mughal structures remain. There are the Delhi Gate and Akbar Gate facing the river, as well as the palace "Bengali Mahal".

Agra Fort contains many historical sites

Jahangir's Hauz 1610: Jahangir used this monolithic tank for bathing. It measures 5 feet in height, 8 feet across and 25 feet around. On the outside of the rim is an inscribed Persian saying 'Hauz-e-Jahangir. First discovered in A.D.1843 near the court of Akbar’s palace, it was placed later in front of Diwan-i-Aam. The statue was taken to Company Bagh, a public garden in 1862. There it suffered much. Sir John Marshall later brought the palace back to Agra fort and placed it. The palace was given the name Jahangiri Mahal because of this hauz. It is actually a piece of Akbar’s Bengali palace.

Shahjahani Mahal sits between two buildings dating back to different centuries. Jahangiri Mahal with its red, white and black stone and Khas Mahal composed of marble. It was here that the Mughal emperor Shahjahan first tried to turn a building made of red stone into his own style. This palace is composed of halls with rooms either side, and a large tower. The red brick structure of the building had been covered in thick plaster painted with floral patterns. The palace once was covered with white marble. On the front of Khas Mahal, there is a white marbled large dalan consisting of five arches. It is protected on the outside by Chajja and supported by two double columns. In this west closed bay, you will find the Ghaznavi Gate as well as Babur's Baoli. There is also a deep well.

Ghaznavi Gate (1030 A.D.). The gate originally belonged to Mahmud Ghaznavi’s Ghazni tomb. It was taken by the British in 1842. In a historical declaration, Lord Ellenborough declared that these doors are those sandalwood gates of Somnath Mahmud brought from Ghazni to Ghazni a decade earlier. He said the British were seeking revenge on the insult 800 years before. It was a false claim made to gain Indian support. This gate's wood is Ghazni pine and not sandalwood. This ornamentation differs from traditional Gujarati woodwork. In the upper section, an Arabic inscription has been carved. Mahmud appears on the inscription. Sir John Marshall erected a poster explaining this entire story. This gate weighs about half a ton and measures 16 feet tall by 13 feet wide. It is composed of hexagonal or octagonal panels and geometrical shapes that are assembled in a frame without any rivets. Somnath abandoned the idea of restoring it and the gate. It has been kept in storage ever since.

Jahangir's Chain of Justice (1605) A.D. Here's where Jahangir installed the "Chain of Justice", or the Zanjeer-e-Adl, in 1605 A.D. His memoirs state that the very first thing Jahangir did after his appointment was to "fasten up the chain of justice" in order that anyone who delayed or practiced hypocrisy would be accused. "I'll fasten and shake the chain, so that its sound will attract my notice." This was gold. This 80 foot long bell was made up of 60 bells. It weighed 1 quintal. At one end were the battlements from Shah-Burj, while at the other a slab of stone was placed on the riverbank. The story is true. William Hawkins saw the event for themselves, as did other travellers of that time. In a 1620 painting, the event is shown. They could go directly to the King as the most powerful judicial figure in the empire, for immediate resolution, with no fee and without being afraid. Caste, religion, and wealth were not differentiated. Adal Jahangir was Jahangir’s famous system for administration of justice in India.

It is situated on the east side of Agra's Fort. Akbar originally built it out of red stones and used to it perform Jharokha Darshan. It was used as a sunbathing platform at dawn. Jahangir used the darshan as well as a Jharokha. This is shown in Jahangir's 1620 oil painting. He also constructed his 'Adal-e-Zanjir, (chain of Justice) to its south. Due to the eight-sided layout, it was called 'Muthamman Burj. Foreign travelers and Persian historians have called it 'Shah Burj. This is incorrect. The Jasmine Tower or Samman-Burj, as Lahori recorded it in the nineteenth century was not Jasmine Tower. Shah Jahan constructed the tower from white marble in 1632-1640 A.D. This was used to perform Jharokha darshan which is an important Mughal tradition known as "Darbar". The five bays in the octagonal shape form a bridge that crosses the river. Each side has pillars or brackets. On the east, a Jharokha projects out in a striking way. Its west wall is adorned with an extensive dalan (alcove) and a number of shah nasins. The floor has a shallow basin. The pave is a deep inlay. The Dalan is an open court that has rooms with a lattice screen built on the north wall. At its southernmost end is a colonnade, which has a room attached. The complex is made up of white marble. Niches are carved into the walls of this complex to add variety. Shah Jahan built it to be one of his most extravagant buildings. It is a beautiful palace. The inlaid and carved lintels, brackets, and pillars are all decorated with plant patterns. All the palaces that are directly related to this one include Diwan-i-Khas Palace, Sheesh Mahal Palace, Khas Mahal Palace and many others. From this palace, the Mughal Emperor reigned. From the tower, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan stayed in the complex from 1658-1666 A.D. Shah Jahan’s corpse was carried by boat from the Taj Mahal to be buried.

Sheesh mahal (1631-1640) is a part of Shah Jahan's summer palace. Glass mosaics are the most striking feature of this building. These glass mosaic pieces have a high gloss finish and are made of high quality. These pieces sparkle in a variety of colors and patterns. Glass imported from Haleb Syria. Shah Jahan constructed other glass palaces including those in Lahore, Delhi and Delhi. It is still the best.

Popular culture

Agra was honored with the Aga-Khan Architecture Award in 2004. India Post has issued a special stamp to commemorate the event.

The Agra Fort is a key part of the Sherlock Holmes Mystery The Sign of the Four, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Agra Fort features in Habibi Da the music video by Egyptian musician Hisham Abbas.

Shivaji was seated behind Mirza Raje Jaisingh and Aurangzeb in the Diwan-i-Khas. He was intentionally placed behind lesser-ranking men at the royal audiences. Intimidated, he stormed out of the audience. Jai Singh had to confine Jai Singh in his quarters 12 May 1666.