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The Red Fort, which is also known as the Lal Qila, was constructed by one of the most famous Mughal emperors, Shah Jahan. Built on the banks of river Yamuna, the fortress-palace was designed by architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. It took 8 years and 10 months to build the magnificent fort. The fort served as the royal residence of the Mughal emperors from 1648 to 1857. It took over the honor of royal residence from the famous Agra Fort when Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. The Red Fort derives its name from the red-sandstone walls, which make the fort almost impregnable. The fort, which is located at Old Delhi, is one of the massive and prominent structures of India and is a fine example of Mughal architecture. It is often considered as the pinnacle of Mughal creativity. In modern times, the fort is of importance to the people of India as the Indian Prime Minister delivers his Independence Day speech from the fort, every year on August 15. In 2007, it was declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History of Red Fort in Delhi
History of Red Fort starts with the very first question of who built the Red Fort. Red Fort was built by Shah Jahan. In the year of 1639, Shah Jahan, decided to shift capital of Mughal Empire Agra to Delhi by the side of River Yamuna. Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri was then assigned the task of building the Red Fort.
Construction of Red Fort, Delhi was completed in the year 1648. The construction of the fort took almost a decade for the completion. Red Fort is adjacent to another fort named Salimgarh, which was built in 1546 by Islam Shah Suri, the second emperor of Sur Dynasty.
Red fort history is not only associated with Mughals but is also symbolic of an important part of India’s past, denoting a timeline of the years it has gone through. The architectural excellence of Red Fort later influenced many other monuments of the country.
Red Fort in Delhi, India is not a prominent structure of past but hold equally important place even in present. It is the place from where Prime Minister of India hoists national flag every year on the eve of Independence Day, on August 15th. This has been the tradition since the year of independence in 1947.
Architecture of Red Fort
Red Fort Delhi is the creation of architects Ustad Ahmad and Ustad Hamid. Architecturally, Red Fort or the Lal Quila surpasses many monuments of the world with its carefully planned layout and impressive structure. For instance, if the layout has to be compared, Delhi Red Fort is planned in a better way than the Red Fort of Agra.
The first thing that you will notice about the Red Fort is its massive structure and its red colour. The stone used in red fort is red sandstone, which resulted in the brick red colour of the fort. The fort was used for a wide range of purposes keeping which in mind it has been built.
The tallest structure of the fort is around 33 meters high. The Delhi Red Fort is in the shape of an irregular octagon, comprising of long east and west sides along with two main gates on the western side and the southern side. The walls of the fort along with a few parts have been constructed with red sandstone while rest of the part has been built using marble.
Some of the prominent sections of the fort that are sure to leave you enchanted are Diwan-i-'Aam, Diwan-i-Khass, Tasbih-Khana, Nahr-i-Bihisht, Delhi Fort Museum- Mumtaz-Mahal, Hammam, Moti-Masjid, Hayat-Bakhsh-Bagh, Chhatta-Chowk, Zafar-Mahal, Rang-Mahal, etc.
Later with the advent of British, Lal Qila also came under their rule. Red Fort under British rule went through a lot of changes, in spite of which it didn’t lose the hypnotic charms of its alluring architecture.
How to Reach Red Fort
Delhi holds an international airport that connects several international destinations with Delhi. Delhi is connected with all states of the country via railways and roadways. Once you reach Delhi, you can find many modes of transportation to reach Red Fort. The fort is one of the important tourist destinations in the city.
The fort is located very close to Chandni Chowk metro state. If you get out of the Gate 5 from the metro station, you can hire rickshaw to reach the fort. You can also walk from the station to the destination. You can find taxis and autos from any part of the city to reach Red Fort.
Best Time to Visit Red Fort
The fort is at prime beauty throughout the year. If you visit during national holidays like Independence Day and Republic Day, you can find many interesting activities and even the Prime Minister’s speech. On the drawback, the fort will be heavily crowded during these holidays and the security will be very high.
Season has no effect on the beauty of the fort. However, visiting India during summer can be dehydrating and humid experience. Delhi experiences very hot climate from March to June. Monsoon starts in July and ends in September. The prime tourism season is the winter season, which starts in October and ends in February.
Delhi, the capital of India, is built on the banks of the River Yamuna and is a beautiful blend of a historical past and a vibrant present. Be it its culture, vibrant nightlife, bustling markets or tourist attractions, the city never fails to hypnotise people with its irresistible charm. Below described are the most sought-after tourist attractions in this great city. Humayun's Tomb is one of the best examples of Mughal architecture that still stand tall in the city. Surrounded by manicured gardens, it is a mausoleum, which was built to house the corpse of Humayun. Red Fort is another marvellous monument accredited to the Mughals. While here, you can admire the inlaid work on the marble and pietra dura in different sections. Another grand fortress, Purana Qila was built by Humayun and Sher Shah Suri, but claimed to be originally constructed by Yudhishthira. Sher Mandal and Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque are its two main highlights. Most New Delhi packages come with a visit to the magnificent India Gate. This imposing 42-metre-high stone arch was built to commemorate the sacrifice of soldiers during the First World War. You can pay tribute to the soldiers at the eternal flame, Amar Jawan Jyoti. Another site, which holds immense historical significance, is Qutb Minar. Built by Qutb ud din Aibak, this sandstone minaret is renowned for its Arabic calligraphy. Your trip to New Delhi would be incomplete without a visit to Rajghat, a memorial, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Close to Rajghat are the memorials of other Indian leaders like Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri that are worth a visit.
