GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -Realising the importance of its central situation, Akbar made it his capital and arrived in Agra in 1558. His historian, Abul Fazl, recorded that this was a brick fort known as ‘Badalgarh’. It was in a ruined condition and Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone from Barauli area Dhaulpur district, in Rajasthan.

Detailed explanation-2: -Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1638, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally red and white, its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal.

Detailed explanation-3: -Why was Agra Fort built? Agra Fort was built by Akbar primarily as a military structure, but Aurangzeb used it to prison his father Shah Jahan for 8 years when he seized power in 1658.

Detailed explanation-4: -Akbar built several forts and monuments like Fort of Agra, Jama Masjid, Jodhabai Mahal, Panch Mahal, Diwan-e-aam, Diwan-e-khas, Jyotish Mahal, the tomb of Saikh Salim Chisti, and Buland Darwaza. He even founded the city of Fatehpur Sikri in the honour of a great sufi saint, Shaikh Salim Chisti.