|
In 1565 Akbar pulled down the brick fort of Lodi at Sikandra and started new fort of red sandstone on riverside.
Shah Jehan who succeeded Jahangir destroyed some of Akbar 's sandstone buildings to build a cluster of rich building laid with marble palace rooms along the river front in the period of 1628 -37.
The exquisite Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque was started in 1646, and is an example of perfect proportion. Diwan-i-Am or Hall of public audience), Diwan-i-Khas or Hall of private audience and Musamman Burj are a must for tourists
Fatehpur Sikri Fort :
It is 40 km southwest from Agra and is located in a deserted sandstone city, Fatehpur Sikri. According to historical facts, in the 16 th century Salim Chisti, a mystic, came to here to the community of stone-cutters and spent his days meditating in a grotto. Legend soon grew around him and the Emperor Akbar set out on a pilgrimage to ask the holy man the blessing of an heir.
When a son was born, Akbar named him after the mystic and decided to shift his capital to Sikri and within a period of six years a complex of forts, palaces and mosques sprang up. Later Akbar was forced to abandon Fatehpur Sikri and it became a ghost town. Even today it is haunted by the memories of the resplendent era.
Jhansi Fort :
The fort is famous for Rani Lakshmi Bai, the woman who headed the Indian troops here during the Mutiny of 1857-58. Bir Singh Deo of Orchha built the nucleus of the present fort in 1613. In 1853 Raja Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi died without a direct heir.
His adopted son was not recognized and his widow, the Rani Lakshmi Bai, reluctantly at first and then with fiery courage took on the British in the unsettled years, which lead unto the Mutiny.
| 
