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The city of Agra lies on the banks of the Yamuna River in India. This medieval city was found by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in the year 1506. The city has achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal emperors from 1526 to 1658. It is today a major tourist destination in India and tourist from all over India and the world come here to admire the fascinating architecture. Some of the splendid Mughal era buildings include Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri , all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Jahangir Mahal is the most important building of the Akbari period in the Agra Fort. Moti Masjid, Agra is also known as the Pearl Mosque. It was built inside the Agra fort in 1654 during the reign of Shah Jahan (1627-1558). It was built as a military establishment principally by Akbar in the year 1565. During Shah Jahan's time, the red sandstone fort at Agra was partially converted into a palace. The courtyard of the Pearl Mosque has side arcades and arched recessions and the main sanctuary facade beyond. The sanctuary is roofed with three bulbous domes and a series of Hindu-style domed kiosks along the parapet. There are seven bays that are divided into a number of aisles which are supported by piers and lobed arches. The Moti Masjid boasts of extensive white marble facing, a typical stylistic feature of Shah Jahani architecture. Besides the Jahangir Mahal, there are numerous other attractions in Agra Fort. The Diwan-e-Am originally made out of wood but was later constructed in the present form by Shah Jahan. The throne room bears a clear influence of Shah Jahan style with the inlaid carvings and panels of marble with floral motifs. This hall of public hearing is the place where the Emperor heard the petitions of the public and met the officials. The Diwan-e-Khas was the hall of the private audience and was also added by Shah Jahan. This hall is divided into two rooms connected by three arches and it was here that the famous peacock throne was kept before being shifted to Delhi by Aurangzeb and finally carried away to Iran.
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