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DELHI TOUR |
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Fort/Lal Qila |
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Location: Old Delhi
Famous As: Lal Qila
Built By: Shah Jahan
Completed In: 1648
The largest
of old Delhi's monuments is Lal Qila, or Red
Fort, whose thick red sandstone walls, bulging
with turrets and bastions, have withstood the vagaries of
time, and nature. The Lal Qila rises above a wide dry
moat, in the northeast corner of the original city of
Shahjahanabad. Its walls extend upto 2-kms, and vary in
height from 18 mts on the river side to 33 mts on the city
side.
Construction & Architectural Style
 Mughal Emperor Shahjahan started the construction of the
massive fort in 1638, and work was completed in 1648. The
fort sports all the obvious trappings, befitting a vital
centre of Mughal government, halls of public and private
audience, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private
apartments, a mosque, and elaborately designed gardens.
Even today, the fort remains an impressive testimony to Mughal grandeur, despite being attacked by the Persian
Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739, and by the British soldiers,
during the War of Independence in 1857.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS OF DELHI
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Diwan-i-Am
The Fort also houses the Diwan-i-Am or “the Hall of
Public Audiences”, where the Emperor would sit and
hear complaints of the common folk. His alcove in
the wall was marble-panelled, and was set with
precious stones, many of which were looted, after
the Mutiny of 1857.
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Diwan-i-Khas
The Diwan-i-Khas is “the Hall of Private Audiences”,
where the Emperor held private meetings. This hall
is made of marble, and its centre-piece used to be
the “Peacock Throne”, which was carried away to Iran
by Nadir Shah in 1739. Today, the Diwan-i-Khas is
only a pale shadow of its original glory, yet the
famous Persian couplet inscribed on its wall reminds
us of its former magnificence: "If on earth be an
eden on bliss, it is this, it is this, none but
this."
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Lahori Gate
Entrance to the fort is through the imposing Lahori
Gate, which as its name suggests faces Lahore, now
in Pakistan. This gate has a special significance
for India, since the first war of independence.
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Chatta Chowk
The main entrance opens on to the Chatta Chowk, a
covered street flanked with arched cells, that used
to house Delhi's most skillful jewellers, carpet
makers, weavers and goldsmiths. This arcade was also
known as the Meena Bazaar, the shopping centre for
the ladies of the court.
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Naubat Khana
Just beyond the Chhata Chowk, is the heart of the
fort called Naubat Khana, or “the Drum House”.
Musicians used to play for the emperor from the
Naubat Khana, and the arrival of princes and royalty
was heralded from here.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF THE RED FORT
The other attractions enclosed within this monument
are the “Hammams” or “the Royal Baths”, the Shahi Burj,
which used to be Shahjahan's private working area, and
the Moti Masjid or “the Pearl Mosque”, built by
Aurangzeb for his personal use. The Rang Mahal or the
'Palace of Colours' housed the Emperor's wives and
mistresses. This palace was crowned with gilded
turrets, delicately painted and decorated with an
intricate mosaics of mirrors, and a ceiling overlaid
with gold and silver, that was wonderfully reflected
in a central pool in the marble floor.
Even today, the Lal Quila is an eloquent reminder of
the glory of the Mughal era, and its magnificence
simply leaves one awestruck. It is still a calm haven
of peace, which helps one to break away from the
frantic pace of life outside the walls of the fort and transport the visitor to another realm of
existence.
SOUND & LIGHT SHOW AT RED FORT
A "Son St Lumiere"
is presented at the fort every evening, which
recreates the magic of events related to the Indian
history, particularly those connected with the Red
Fort. The show starts after sunset and ends after an hour.
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