AGRA FORT

AGRA FORT

Situated just 3km northwest of the Taj Mahal, its sister monument, the Agra Fort, served as the main residence for the Mughal emperors before the capital was moved to Delhi. This walled city of red sandstone, situated on the Yamuna River in Agra was established by Abdul Fath Jalal al-Din Muhammad, better known as Akbar ‘the great’. He was the third Mughal emperor and was inaugurated at the tender age of 13. He reigned from 1556 – 1605 CE and due to his numerous accomplishments – amongst them his record of unbeaten military campaigns – he was given the title of ‘the great’.
The establishment of the fort was yet another of his feats which he commissioned in 1565CE and reportedly took eight years to construct. It is an enormous structure, surrounded by impenetrable walls. They stretch along the banks of the Yamuna River on the one side and have a total circumference of about 2.5 km maintaining its 21m height throughout its course. There are two main entry points, namely; the Amar Singh Gate (now the only means of access), and the Delhi Gate – having been the original entrance – which is beautifully decorated with complex marble inlays.
The fort remains a fine example of Mughal design; a combination of Persian, Turkish and Asian architecture. Due to its red sandstone walls, it is also referred to as the Red Fort.

DARUL ULOOM DEOBAND

Musjid Rasheed Named after the city of its origin, the north Indian town of Deoband, the madrasa was founded in 1867 by Moulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi and Moulana Qasim Nanautvi. The objective of its establishment was to preserve Muslim identity and heritage in the...

THE CHERAMAN JUMA MUSJID

Believed to date as far back as 700 C.E, the Musjid is regarded as India’s first and oldest Musjid. It is known as the Malik Dinar or Cheraman Musjid. There are differing oral traditions as to how it came into being. One narrative suggests that the ruler of Kerala...

JAMA MUSJID OF BHARUCH

The oldest Musjid in the province of Gujarat is the Jama Musjid of Bharuch which was completed in the early 14th century CE. Located at the base of Bharuch Fort, it was constructed from the remains of the Jain Temple which was located on that site. After conquering...