Agra Fort: A Pictorial Tour


Upon completion of Sikandra tour, we were driven to the hotel for check in and little freshening up. We certainly could use a little time away from the rain to dry out.

No sooner have we dried out, we were back out into the rain, which actually thankfully whittled down into very mild drizzle. We were visiting Agra Fort, which is designed and built by Akbar (yes, him again) in 1565. The fort was built with barricaded wall of red sandstone and houses mosque and numerous palaces, including the Musamman Burj where you can see Taj Mahal from across the river. This is also ironically the palace where Emperor Shah Jahan, who was made prisoner of his son Aurangzeb, could gaze at the Taj Mahal during his imprisonment. By the way the reason for his imprisonment is his son's greed for power.

It's all too overwhelming to be visiting Agra Fort so soon after my senses have just concluded processing all the beauty that was Sikandra. It was too much beauty in one afternoon. I'm not complaining. I made sure I was packing - batteries, that is, lots of batteries.

On with the pictorial tour:

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Entrance.

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Drawbridge by Amar Singh Gate.

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Imposing Facade.

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Tall Facade and equally imposing.

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No doubt about it.

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Local tourists outnumber foreign-looking ones.

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A local hanging out inside the fort?

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Two of the foreign tourists.

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Pink goodness.

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A pond used to be in this spot, where the Queen Mumtaj Mahal and Shah Jahan would fish. Where I took this is where Shah Jahan's spot and the one photographed is Mumtaj Mahal's spot. It was told that the king didn't catch any fish because he spent his time staring at his beautiful queen.

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White marble columns.

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Gorgeous domed ceiling.

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The queen's private room.

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Ornately decorated marble walls.

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The decorated holes in the wall held candles for lighting during the night.

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Taj Mahal seen from a hazy distance.

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More inlay work.

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Labor intensive.

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More fabulous facade.

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Eerie.

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Public hall where the king listens to people's woes.

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Public hall, where the king sits.

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Looking up where the king sits at the public hall.

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Crocs used to live in the moat.

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One last shot as we drove off.

(It was tough sorting/selecting photos to blog, because I took so many photos. It is my hope that I did Agra Fort justice with this set of images.)

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Comments

  1. Beautiful. Now I want to go to India, but I'm not sure I can take the long flight. By the way, I might ask the information of the travel agency you used. It's just nice to have the info handy. I'm taking a a subject on India, Gandhi and Hinduism at the moment...very interesting.

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  2. Nice photos and thanks for taking us to India, nice place to visit ;-) and I can relate to you when it comes to selecting photos, it's hard to find, all are nice shots hehehe

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  3. A great looking series. The buildings are so impressive and elegant looking. I like the pretty hallway shots too. Very nice post.

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  4. Thanks for the tour of this amazing place. Fantastic shots.

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  5. Wonderful photos of India!I wish I could make a journey to India but unfortunately I have fear to fly so long.

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  6. How beautiful this place is....wow! So many photo opportunities -- I'm glad you shared them with us.

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  7. Wonderful post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  8. oh my, the structure are so elaborate and am just glad that these were preserved. Very nice and thanks for sharing your wonderful photos!

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  9. i love the texture and color of your pictures. it feels like i'm there with you.

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  10. Beautiful series!! That building is so ornate!! Breath-taking!!

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  11. Amazing! We think our modern culture is so advanced but look what they accomplished more than 450 years ago.
    All of your images are great but "A local hanging out inside the fort?" deserves to be framed, it is wonderful!

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  12. Just stunning!

    Sky Views at my end, have a great weekend!

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  13. Wow - your photos are amazing! And such a beautiful place to visit.

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  14. Wonderful collection of images of the fort. Full justice done.

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  15. Excellent captures. I hope to visit someday.

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  16. i am speechless, maria.
    agra's beautiful on your photos!
    i hope i can see her someday (ayaw ni tina e!) *sigh*

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  17. incredible, jaw-dropping beautiful! gusto ko mag-Hallelujah! to see all these up close & personal must be an awesome experience.

    i'm glad you packed extra batteries---what a feast!

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  19. Wow! Breathtaking images of a marvelous fort!!

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  20. .. just great pictures!

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  21. Lovely pictures, loved the marble pillars shot. I have been to Agra quite a few times but it still amazes me all the same.

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  22. Such a fabulous adventure to go exploring historic and beautiful momuments

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  23. An architectural gem at its finest.

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  24. Parang napunta na rin ako sa Agra Fort through your photos. Thanks for giving us a pictorial tour.

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  25. Breathtakingly beautiful photos!

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  26. Simply stunning! (And I appreciate the work you put in to share these with us!)

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  27. i love watching Indian flicks and
    this could maybe one of its setting.
    the attention to detail was again, very interesting.
    i wish the weather could've been better though, but your fotos can sum up in a word called stunning!

    ps:
    don't know if you've noticed it,
    but the local hanging outside the fort foto, looked like a painting.
    i thought it was till i looked closely.
    that one is sheer priceless.

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  28. I knew you would take a shot having the Taj in the background! It's impossible not to do it. :-) Fabulous shots of this fort.

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  29. Great post, Maria! Wonderful set of images, all so pleasant and well detailed.

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  30. I remember this so well. I particularly like the part that overlooks the Yamuna river and Taj Mahal.

    I'm still scratching my head at the son's greed for power (to imprison even his own father!)

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  31. You nailed it, Maria. The architecture is almost too incredible to believe, isn't it!

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