Khas Mahal (Agra Fort)

The Khas Mahal (also known as the Aramgah-I-Muqaddas) is a palace in the Agra Fort. The complex contained the apartments of the women of the harem.[1]

The front view of the Khas Mahal.

History

It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan around 1631 and was the residence of the princesses Jahanara Begum and Roshanara Begum. It is believed that Jahanara lived in the northern palace of the two.[2]

Architecture

The Khas Mahal comprises open terraces and a hall flanked by pavilions on both sides serving as partitions. It stands on an elevated platform paved with pristine marble. The palace includes elegant fountains, tanks, and a waterfall surrounded by chambers with courts and verandahs.

Interior chambers inside the Khas Mahal with a fountain.
Princess Jahanara Begum's pavilion.

The interior of the palace contains beautifully adorned ceilings and alcoves in the walls around, with iron rings hung up high where lanterns once hung. The walls are decorated with intricate golden frescoes. In front of the Khas Mahal complex is the Anguri Bagh, a grape garden built in 1637. The charbagh (four part) Anguri Bagh served as a pleasure garden for the ladies of the harem to relax at. There used to be hammams at its northeast.[3]

The Harem apartments and Anguri Bagh

The Anguri Bagh contains water channels and pathways dividing it into four sides, and In its centre used to be a marble paved fountain. The garden was known for having the choicest grapes and beautiful flowers throughout the year, hence the name. The tanks near the Jahangiri Mahal ensured that there was sufficient water supply for its water channels and ponds.[4] Surrounding the garden are the harem apartments, which are directly adjacent to the garden.

The Harem apartments.
The Anguri Bagh or Grape Garden.

The apartments are two storeyed, with open pillared verandahs on their exterior.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Latif, Syad Muhammad (1896). Agra, Historical & Descriptive: With an Account of Akbar and His Court and of the Modern City of Agra. Printed at the Calcutta Central Press Company, Limited.
  2. ↑ "Khas Mahal Agra Fort - Khas Mahal Red Fort Agra - Khas Mahal Agra Fort India". www.agraindia.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  3. ↑ "Khas Mahal - Agra Fort, Agra - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit". Trawell.in. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  4. ↑ "Anguri Bagh Agra - Anguri Bagh Agra Fort - Anguri Bagh Red Fort Agra India". www.agraindia.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  5. ↑ Sinha, Shashank Shekhar (2021-09-23). Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri: Monuments, Cities and Connected Histories. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-93-89104-09-7.
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