Fortified Frontiers: Gates of Agra Fort
The Agra Fort holds the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally known as Badalgarh, it was ruled by Raja Badal Singh, a Hindu Sikarwar Rajput king, around 1475. The fort’s historical significance dates back to 1080 AD, when it was seized by a Ghaznavide force. Sikandar Lodi, the inaugural Sultan of Delhi, made Agra his seat of power Noteworthy figures like Babur and Humayun left their mark on the fort’s legacy. Akbar, recognizing its strategic importance, designated it as his capital in 1558. The fort, originally in a state of disrepair and known as ‘Badalgarh’ according to Akbar’s historian Abdul Fazal, underwent extensive reconstruction with red sandstone from Barauli, Rajasthan. The fort’s transformation into its current state, however, occurred during the reign of Shah Jahan.
Indian forts are characterised by their elaborate gateways, and the Agra Fort is no exception. The Amar Singh Gate, originally known as Akbar Darwaza or Lahore Gate, is situated in the southern direction and dates back to 1568-69 CE. Its name likely originated from its association with the Mughal Emperor Akbar and the royal family as only they were allowed to use it. Legend has it that Emperor Shah Jahan later renamed it as Amar Singh Darwaza. The Amar Singh gate is flanked by octagonal towers on either side. The gate stands perpendicular to the fort wall and, although not extravagantly adorned, displays intricate white marble inlay work. Historically, it was tiled with vibrant tiles, now lost.
Image 1 - Outer facade of Amar Singh Gate
Image 2 - Amar Singh Gate, from a collection of Postcards by Walter George Whitman, 1920s
Constructed by Akbar between 1568 and 1569, the Delhi Gate, located on the western side, is the most sophisticated among all entrances. Serving as the primary entry point during Akbar’s era, a drawbridge facilitated passage across the moat for security reasons. The Delhi Gate was richly embellished using contemporary techniques. It showcased stone carvings in geometric, floral, and stylized designs, along with bold relief carvings, brackets featuring elephant heads, intricate jalis, and stucco decorations on arched niches, soffits, and semi-soffits, adorned with arabesque, geometric, and stalactite patterns. Within the Delhi Gate lies the Hathi Pole, also known as the Elephant Gate, which was constructed in 1568-69 CE.
Image 3 - Delhi Gate (Photograph from 1880 British Library Archives)
The Chittor Gate was not initially part of the Agra Fort. This impressive gateway is located in the western wall of the Macchi Bhawan, named so because it was believed to be used for rearing goldfish for the Emperor. The intricate carving on the bronze surface is in a geometrical pattern. Originally intended for the private access of ladies to this area, it now features 11 feet wide bronze Chittor Gates. These gates were brought from the renowned Hill Fort of Chittorgarh as a trophy by Emperor Akbar, who captured the fort in 1568.
Image 4 - Photograph of the Chittor Gate, Agra Fort, from the ASI Collections taken during the 1870s.
The Somnath Gate, also known as the Ghazni Gate, has no historical connection to the Agra Fort. It was transported from Afghanistan and stored here by the British in 1842. The then Governor-General, Lord Ellenborough, either as a ploy or a mistake, falsely declared it as the gate of a Hindu temple looted by Afghans in 1025, in an attempt to placate Hindus. This declaration, however, proved to be an embarrassing error, leading to the gate being left abandoned in the Agra Fort. Crafted from colossal wooden planks, it showcases rows of star-shaped designs.
Image 5 - Ghazni/Somnath Gate
In addition to the previously mentioned gates, the Agra Fort houses several other entrances. The Khizri Gate, also known as the Jal or Water Gate, was situated on the eastern side, providing direct access to the riverbank with its ghats. The Darshani Darwaza, also known as the Gate of Audience, was located on the northern side of the fort. According to historical accounts, it was where people would show their respect to the Emperor. William Finch documented the Darshan Darwaza, describing how the king would visit each morning to receive salutations from the nobles. It was also the spot where Akbar observed animal fights. Unfortunately, there are no existing documents or images depicting this gate.
The Archaeological Survey of India is responsible for maintaining the aforementioned gates. Today, only one of the gates—the Lahore/Akbari/Amar Singh Gate—is accessible to the general public. As a substantial portion of the Agra Fort is still controlled by the Indian Army, the Delhi gate is currently under their control and is only used by them.
Bibliography:
Books
- Beveridge, H., trans. Akbarnama. Delhi: Rare Books, 1972.
- Chandra, Satish. Medieval India. New Delhi: Har Anand Publications, 2007
Research Papers
- Raza, S. Jabir. “Inscriptions on the Monuments of Akbar.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 53 (1992): 244–250. Published by Indian History Congress
- Vanina, Eugenia. “Monuments to Enemies? ‘Rajput’ Statues in Mughal Capitals.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 29, no. 4 (October 2019): 683–704. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1356186319000415
Websites
- “Agra Fort Information.” Indian Culture Portal. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://indianculture.gov.in/node/2801041.
- “Amanjul: Explore Agra Fort – The Gates.” Amanjul’s Blog. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://amanjul.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/explore-agra-agra-fort-the-gates/.
- “Amar Singh Gate – Agra Fort.” Agra India Tourism. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.agraindia.org.uk/agra-fort/amar-singh-gate.html.
- “Delhi Gate – Agra Fort.” Agra India Tourism. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.agraindia.org.uk/agra-fort/delhi-gate.html.
- “Somnath Gates.” Tapioca India. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://tapioca.co.in/somnath-gates.
Image Credits:
- Image 1 – https://kevinstandagephotography.wordpress.com/2019/05/25/agra-fort-red-fort-a-palace-becomes-a-prison/#jp-carousel-17300
- Image 2 – https://indianculture.gov.in/node/2801041
- Image 3 – https://amanjul.wordpress.com/2020/04/01/explore-agra-agra-fort-the-gates/
- Image 4 – https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/c/019pho000001003u00504000.html
About the Author:
Author: Sadia Shakil
Sadia Shakil is a post graduate in History and an independent researcher with specialisation in the field of art and cultural history. Her work spans heritage sites, historical literature and art and craft blogs.
