India: Agra – Agra Fort
While Taj Mahal is the most famous attraction in Agra, the nearby Agra Fort can easily give it run for the money, being one of the largest Mughal-era forts in India and whole Central Asia. Agra Fort was built by the great Emperor Akbar in 1565, and then modified into a lavish palace by his grandson Shah Jahan (same guy who built Taj Mahal). Jahan’s son Aurangzeb then turned it into a prison for his father to prevent him from building another Taj Mahal and further devastate the empire economically. The fort has two rings of 20m-high walls that run for 2.5km in circumference. Inside the gates and walls are several spectacular palaces and two mosques – all from combination of white marble and red sandstone. Beautiful archways, carved walls and columns and awesome views across the river onto Taj Mahal are abound. There is also a high-set gazebo-like Khah Mahal, from where the imprisoned and lonely Shah Jahan was staring at his creation – Taj Mahal – sparkling at sunset. The circles of life…
