The Red Fort at Agra

The plan was to start with a visit to the Taj Mahal this morning but the visibility was so poor we had to change plans. We will visit this afternoon and start with the Agra Red Fort.

The smog is as bad as we have experienced and our photos are not great. The Red Fort is still a highlight as it is not only a fort but a Royal Palace as well.

When we arrived we were greeted at the entrance by a troop of monkeys with a small family group sitting around their dead baby. It had obviously been dead for some days. It was a secure fort with design features to protect it from attack. It has a moat and drawbridge, an uphill entry with sharp turns to prevent the use of battering rams and steep sides so that unwelcome visitors could be treated to boiling oil. It was not penetrated until the Moguls moved on to Delhi.

The palace incorporated one of the first structures to combine Mogul Islamic architecture and art with the local Hindu styles. Walls included images of elephants that were significant to Hindus but inanimate objects only were used in the Islamic styles. Walls have semi precious stones inlaid and they were very elaborate. We also visited what is believed to be the most elaborate cell ever. When Shah Jehan was deposed by his son he was placed in “house arrest” in a beautiful section of the palace for his final 8 years of life.

                                                 Rob. Note the Islamic and Mogul structures.  

                                           Rob indicates the location of The Taj Mahal.

                                            Can you see The Taj Mahal? Neither could we!

                                            Gail in front of the  Palace section.

                                                     The detail was very intricate.

The detail in the column on the left was replicated throughout this section of the Palace. Note the detailed carving in the marble walls.

Gail and Rob in the courtyard. The fog was still heavy as you can see.