Portal:Uttar Pradesh/Selected article/2007/December

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Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, India. The fort is also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its much more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal. The fort can be more accurately described as a walled palatial city.

It is the most important fort in India. The great Mughals Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb lived here, and the country was governed from here. It contained the largest state treasury and mint. It was visited by foreign ambassadors, travellers and the highest dignitaries who participated in the making of history in India.

The fort has a semi-circular plan, its chord lying parallel to the river. Its walls are seventy feet high. Four gates were provided on its four sides, one Khizri gate" opening on to the river. Two other gates are called the 'Delhi Gate' and the 'Lahore Gate' facing two cities.

The Agra Fort has won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in the year 2004 and India Post has issued a Stamp to commemorate this prestigious award on 28.11.2004.
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