The Red Fort, Delhi
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| Red Fort, Old Delhi |
The Red Fort is a historic fort in Old Delhi that was the main residence of the Mughal emperors. It was built by Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fort has many palaces, halls, baths, gardens and a mosque inside its red sandstone walls. You can visit the fort from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every day. The name Red Fort is a translation of the Hindustani word Lāl Qila, which means red fortress. The word lal comes from Hindustani and means red, while the word qila comes from Arabic and means fortress. The fort is named after its red sandstone walls, which were built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century.
How to witness the Independence day celebrations at Red Fort?
If you want to witness the Independence Day celebrations at the fort, you can book online tickets from aamantran.mod.gov.in.
History of Red fort, New Delhi
The Red Fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as his palace and the seat of his power when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. The fort was designed by the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also designed the Taj Mahal. The fort was constructed with red sandstone and white marble, and decorated with precious stones and paintings. The fort witnessed many historical events, such as the coronation of Aurangzeb, the invasion of Nadir Shah, the mutiny of 1857, and the independence of India. The fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of India’s sovereignty.
Architecture of Red Fort
The architecture of the Red Fort is a blend of Indo-Islamic styles, influenced by Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions. The fort is built with red sandstone and white marble, and has many ornate structures, such as domes, arches, pillars, minarets, and gardens.
Major Structures of Red Fort
The Lahori Gate
The Lahori Gate is the main entrance to the Red Fort in Delhi. It is named so because it faced the direction of Lahore, which was then part of the Mughal Empire. The gate has a double-storeyed arcade and three domes on top. The gate is made of red sandstone except for the roofs, which are of white marble. The gate is decorated with carved panels and calligraphy. The gate leads to the Chhatta Chowk, a covered market that sells various items.
The Delhi Gate
The Delhi Gate is another entrance to the Red Fort in Delhi. It is located on the southern wall of the fort and faces the direction of Delhi, which was then the capital of the Mughal Empire1. The gate is almost identical to the Lahori Gate in appearance, with a double-storeyed arcade and three domes on top. The gate is also made of red sandstone and white marble, and has carved panels and calligraphy. The gate leads to a large courtyard that connects to other structures in the fort. The gate was built by Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, and later fortified by his son Aurangzeb, who added a barbican (a defensive structure) in front of the gate.
The Chatta Chowk
The Chhatta Chowk is a covered market that is located inside the Red Fort, behind the Lahori Gate. It is a long passage way with arched ceilings and two-storeyed flats that serve as shops. The market was built by Shah Jahan for the queens and the nobles of the Mughal court, who could buy various items such as jewellery, silk, carpets, perfumes, etc. The market was also known as the Meena Bazaar or the Bazaar-i-Musaqqaf. Today, the market sells mostly souvenirs, handicrafts, antiques, etc
The Naubat Khana
The Naubat Khana is a drum house that stands at the entrance between the outer and inner court at the Red Fort. It is a two-storeyed building with red sandstone walls and white marble decorations. It has a projecting balcony where musicians used to play various instruments such as drums, trumpets, flutes, etc. The music was played at scheduled times to announce the arrival or departure of the emperor or other important events. The Naubat Khana also served as a waiting hall for visitors who had to dismount from their elephants and horses before entering the inner court. The Naubat Khana was built by Shah Jahan in 1636 CE. Today, it houses the Indian War Memorial Museum, which displays various weapons and armours from different periods of Indian history.
Diwan-i-Aam
The Diwan-i-Aam is a large pavilion in the Red Fort where the Mughal emperor and his successors received members of the general public and heard their grievances. It is located between the public and private parts of the fortress, facing a large open courtyard. The Diwan-i-Aam is a hypostyle hall with red sandstone walls and white marble columns, arches and decorations. It has a raised platform at the back where the emperor sat on a marble throne under a canopy. The throne was inlaid with precious stones and had a peacock feather fan behind it1. The Diwan-i-Aam was built by Shah Jahan between 1639 and 1648 CE.
The Mumtaz Mahal
The Mumtaz Mahal is a palace in the Red Fort that was built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who is also the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. The Mumtaz Mahal is one of the six main palaces that were situated facing the Yamuna River and connected by a waterway called the Stream of Paradise. The Mumtaz Mahal has a white marble exterior and a red sandstone interior with painted floral decorations. It has a central hall with six apartments on either side and a hammam (bath) at the end. The Mumtaz Mahal was used as a harem (women’s quarters) by the Mughal emperors. Today, it houses the Red Fort Archaeological Museum, which displays various artefacts from the Mughal period such as paintings, textiles, weapons, coins, etc
The Khas Mahal
The Khas Mahal is a marble palace in the Red Fort that served as the private residence of the Mughal emperor and his family. It was built by Shah Jahan between 1631 and 1640 CE. The Khas Mahal consists of three parts: the Tasbih Khana (prayer room), the Khawabgah (sleeping chamber), and the Baithak (sitting room). The Khas Mahal has a flat roof with a copper dome and a golden spire. It has painted ceilings, mirrors, screens, and fountains. It also has a Scale of Justice on the roof, which symbolizes the emperor’s authority and impartiality. The Khas Mahal overlooks the Yamuna River and the Anguri Bagh (grape garden).
The Diwan-i-Khas
The Diwan-i-Khas is a marble hall in the Red Fort where the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his successors received courtiers and state guests in private. It was built in 1648 CE and was also known as the Shah Mahal. The Diwan-i-Khas has a rectangular shape with triple lobed arches and painted ceilings. It has a famous inscription on its wall that says "If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here". It also has a golden throne that was once adorned with the Peacock Throne, a magnificent seat of jewels that was later taken away by the Persian invader Nadir Shah.
The Hammam
The Hammam is a Turkish bath in the Red Fort that served as the bathing area of the Mughal emperor and his family. It is located in the north of the Diwan-i-Khas. The Hammam has three chambers: the eastern chamber, which has a dressing room and a sauna; the central chamber, which has three fountains and a marble basin; and the western chamber, which has a hot water tank and a cold water tank. The Hammam has white marble floors and painted walls with floral designs. The Hammam also has a smaller bath near the Asad Burj, which was hidden under vegetation for years and is now being conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. What's Asad Burj mean? Asad Burj means Leo Tower in Urdu and Arabic12. It is one of the four towers of the Red Fort that mark the cardinal directions3. It is located in the south-east corner of the fort and has a circular shape with a domed roof3. It was used as a watch tower and a residence by the Mughal emperors and later by the British army3. It was vacated by the army in 2003 and is now being conserved by the ASI (ASI stands for the Archaeological Survey of India, which is a government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country).
Baoli
There is an ancient baoli inside the Red Fort complex, known as the Lal Qila Baoli or the Red Fort Baoli. It is believed to be of Tughlaq era, which was renovated by Shah Jahan when the Red Fort was being constructed. The baoli served as a major source of water for the entire fort and was also used as a prison by the British army. The baoli is located near the Lahori Gate and the Chatta Chowk inside the fort.
The Moti Masjid
The Moti Masjid in the Red Fort is a white marble mosque built by Aurangzeb from 1659 to 1660. It was his private mosque when he stayed in Delhi. It has three domes, three bays, and a narrow courtyard. It is located near the Diwan-i-Khas and the Hammam.
The Hira Mahal
The Hira Mahal("Diamond palace") is a marble pavilion in the Red Fort located on the eastern wall north of the Moti Masjid. It was built by Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor, in 1842. It is one of the two pavilions he commissioned, the other being the Moti Mahal. You can not see The Hira Mahal because it was demolished after the Mutiny(mu-nity means an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers) of 1857. Want's to know about this Munity? - Please comment below
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