Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Red Forts of Agra and Delhi

A very warm welcome to my blog.

I continue with photos from my trip to Delhi. I visited the Red Fort in Delhi and the one in Agra.


Both fascinating and beautiful.

The Delhi Red Fort was constructed by the Murghal Emperor Sha Jahan in 1693. The one in Agra is much older and is the most important fort in India. It is first mentioned in 1080.

The Sha Jahan lived there and was also imprisoned there by one of his sons. The Sha could see his beloved Taj Mahal from the Fort. He died there, still a prisoner.

This first photo shows the main entrance to the Delhi Red Fort, Lahore Gate.

In a couple of weeks I'll put up some photos of other great places in Delhi.

See you then

Alan
















Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience).
The Mughal Emperor sat on a marble
throne here














Pearl Mosque (left) Royal Hammams (centre)
and Diwan-i-Khas (right)
















Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid)
















Diwan-i-Khas interior (Hall of Private Audience)
















Diwan-i-Khas - Inlay detail
















Hayat Bakhsh Bagh "life-bestowing gardens"
in the Fort
















The Khas Mahal, the Emperor's residence
















Rang Mahal (Palace of Colour).
This was the home of the Emperor's principal wife
Mumtaz Mahal, now lying in the Taj Mahal
(see the previous edition of my blog)






















Rang Mahal interior
















The Shahi Burj. Emperor Shah Jahan's personal
study and library






















Under the Shahi Burj arches















Inner gateway from the inside
















Passing through from the main gate






















Musician playing in Agra
















Main entrance to the Red Fort in Agra
















View of the Taj Mahal from just outside the Fort,
as the Sha Jahan would have seen it






















Passing through the main gate






















Happy visitors arriving from the inner gate
















Fakirs make an interesting shot
















Diwan-i-Am Palace
















Domes of Nagina Masjid mosque which was
probably for Sha Jahan's private use when
he lived there
















Looking across to the Mothi Masjid courtyard,
built by Shah Jahan for his family
and court chiefs
















Jahangiri Mahal palace,
built by Akbar for his favourite son

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