Agra Fort - The Hall Where the Emperor Listened

Photo: Jakub Halun, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Taj Mahal and Agra: A Self-Guided Visit, a free self-guided tour.

Agra Fort was the seat of Mughal power long before the Taj was built. Shah Jahan's grandfather, Akbar, rebuilt it in red sandstone between 1565 and 1573, wrapping it in massive walls that run for well over two kilometers. Later emperors filled it with palaces, and Shah Jahan added buildings in white marble.

You are at the Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Public Audience, which Shah Jahan commissioned soon after he came to the throne in 1628. Look at the rows of elegant pillars and scalloped arches. Ordinary subjects and officials gathered in the courtyard, and the emperor appeared in the raised marble alcove at the back to hear petitions and complaints and to hold court.

Only part of the fort is open; the Indian Army still uses a large section. From here, follow the signs toward the riverside palaces, where the story of the Taj takes a sad turn.

Getting here: It is about 2.5 kilometers from the Taj Mahal to Agra Fort; take an auto-rickshaw or car to the Amar Singh Gate on the south side, the visitor entrance, then walk up the ramp to the Hall of Public Audience.

Did you know?: In 1666 the Maratha leader Shivaji came to this fort to meet Emperor Aurangzeb, felt insulted at court, was held under guard - and famously escaped a few months later.

Photo op: Stand at one end of the hall and shoot down the long rows of white arches to capture their repeating rhythm.

Nearby: The ticket office is near the Amar Singh Gate. Restrooms and drinking water are available inside the fort; check the signs.

Agra Fort - The Hall Where the Emperor Listened

Stops on this tour