Octagonal Tower

Octagonal Tower is a grand tower, which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. This impressive tower stands tall in Agra, the same place where one of the Eight Wonders of the World, Taj Mahal is present with its eternally enchanting beauty. The Octagonal Tower is a significant part of the massive and all-inclusive Red Fort in Agra.

The Red Fort was built by Akbar as a military establishment but later Shah Jahan constructed some beautiful Mahals inside it. These structures partly transformed Red Fort into a massive Palace, making it look like a city contained by another city.

Shah Jahan loved his wife Mumtaj Mahal dearly and to give expressions to his love for his 'Begum', he built the Musamman Burj inside the magnificent Agra Red Fort. This beautiful tower is octagonal in shape. The Octagonal Tower looks all the more charming because of its open pavilion. It is beside another wonderful structure, the Diwan-i-Khas.

It was built strategically so that the cooling breeze blowing from the Yamuna River flows into the tower. Shah Jahan ensured that his beloved, Mumtaj Mahal, gets the soul-soothing zephyr in the calm evenings. It is very spacious and airy; an absolute pleasure to live in.

When Taj Mahal was built, great care was taken so that the Octagonal Tower gets a good view of the 'Monument of Love'-Taj Mahal.

When the emperor was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, he spent the last seven years of his life in this Octagonal Tower, watching the sublime beauty, reminiscent of Mumtaj Mahal and perhaps even re-living the golden days spent with his wife.