A massive red sandstone wall surrounds the Red Fort of Agra, a great and historic city two hundred kilometres south east of Delhi. Almost two and a half kilometres long and at an average height of twenty metres, the wall contains several well-fortified bastions that have been used by the Indian army right up to the present day.

The east side of the Diwan-I-Am is connected to the Machi Bhavan, a beautiful courtyard that is surrounded on three sides by a two-storey building complex. It is believed that the legendary golden throne of the great moguls was kept in the southern wing.

In addition to the private audience hall of the moguls, the Diwan-I-Khas, the private chambers of Shah Jahan are one of the fort’s most fascinating sights.

But 1658 prove to be a tragic year for Shah Jahan as his son, Aurangzeb, arrested him and removed him from power. From his prison cell he was able to see one of the most famous symbols of his former regime his favourite wife’s fantastic mausoleum, the Taj Mahal.