India: Khas Mahal (Marble Pavilion), Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort was originally a brick fort, held by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 CE when a Ghaznavide force captured it.

Sikandar Lodi (1488–1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived in the fort. He governed the country from here and Agra assumed the importance of the second capital.

After the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Mughals captured the fort. The victorious Babur stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim and built a baoli (step well) in it.

The emperor Humayun was crowned here in 1530. Humayun was defeated at Bilgram in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri. The fort remained with Suris till 1555, when Humayun recaptured it.

The Hindu king Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also called 'Hemu', defeated Humayun's army, led by Iskandar Khan Uzbek, and won Agra. Hemu got a huge booty from this fort and went on to capture Delhi from the Mughals. The Mughals under Akbar defeated King Hemu finally at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556.

Realizing the importance of its central situation, Akbar made it his capital and arrived in Agra in 1558. The fort was in a ruined condition and Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone, completing it in 1573.

It was only during the reign of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan, that the site took on its current state.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia