AGRA RED FORT

• IT IS A PRODIGIOUS (EXTRAORDINARY) FORTIFICATION TOWN

THAT WAS MEANT TO BE THE CAPITAL OF THE MUGHAL
EMPIRE.
• LOCATION: AGRA, RIGHT BANK OF THE YAMUNA.
• FORM: BUILT IN AN IRREGULAR SEMI-CIRCULAR SHAPE.
• LAYOUT: IT HAS A BROAD DEEP MOAT SURROUNDING THE
FORT.
• FOUR GATEWAYS: 1) DELHI GATE TO ITS WEST (MAIN
ENTRANCE TO FORT) 2) AMAR SINGH GATE TO THE SOUTH (FOR
PRESENT DAY VISITORS) 3) JAL DARWAZAH (PRIVATE GATE FOR
WOMEN FACING THE RIVER) AND THE LAST 2 GARES REMAIN
CLOSED.
• WALLS: IT IS SURROUNDED BY DOUBLE WALLS OF RED
SANDSTONE (THE OUTER WALL IS 40 FEET WHILE THE INNER
WALL IS 70 FEET HIGH)
• BATTLEMENTS (FORTIFICATIONS) WITH ABOUT 10 TOWERS
AND BASTIONS (DEFENSIVE PROJECTION) AT REGULAR
INTERVALS ARE PRESENT ON THE WALLS.
• THE TWO BASTIONS FACING THE RIVER ARE KNOWN AS THE
‘SHAH BURJ’ AND THE ‘BENGALI BURJ’.
• FEATURES: HARMONY, AESTHETIC APPEAL AND
ORNAMENTATION HAVE SKILLFULLY BEEN KEPT IN MIND WHILE
DESIGNING THE FORT BESIDES THE STRENGTH AND SE CURITY
THAT IT PROVIDES.