This great monument of red sandstone dominating a
bend in the river Yamuna, 2km northwest of Taj Mahal was
constructed by the Mughals during 1565-1571. It was Emperor Akbar
who laid the foundation of this majestic citadel in 1565. The
fort was ready by 1571 period of Shahjahan, Akbar's grandson. The
fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long,
nearly straight wall facing the river. Fort's colossal double
walls rise 69 ft in height and measure 2.5 km in circumference
encircled by a moat and contain a maze of buildings which form a
small city within a city. The fort contains splendid mosques and
palaces in red sandstone and white marble built by two
generations of creative builders during the time of Akbar and
later Jehangir and Shahjahan.
The wall has 2 gates, the Delhi Gate and the Amar Singh Gate. The
original and grandest entrance was through the Delhi Gate, which
leads to the inner portal called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate.
But now the entrance to the fort is only through the Amar Singh
Gate. Public access is limited to the southern part of the fort
which includes nearly all the buildings of tourist interest.
