Built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red fort
is an exorbitant pieces of Mughal architecture.
The entry to this exotic fort, popularly known as Purana Qila, is from the
Lahori Gate or the Chatta Chowk. Lal Qila is now a busy market place called
the 'Meena Bazaar'. This bazaar has an excellent assemblage of antiques,
miniature paintings and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewelery. The bazaar
also sells some marvelous carpets beautifully woven. .
Within the complex
» Lahore Gate : The entrance in the fort is through this Gate
which forms a part of a massive stone fortification. The path leads to the
shopping place known as Chatta Chowk, lined with shops originally where the
royal household used to shop for silks, brocades, velvets, gold and silver
ware, jewellery, gems etc.
» Naubat Khana : This lies at the end of the Chatta Chowk,
where ceremonial music was played by the musicians to impress the emperor
and special tunes were played to announce the arrival of the royalty and
important dignitaries. The Naubat Khana has four floors and it also served
as a gate house 'Hathi Pol' where the visiting dignitaries had to leave
their horses and elephants.
» Indian War Memorial Museum : This museum is just above the
Naubat Khana. The museum has a collection of armors, guns, swords and other
items related to war. There is the Swatantra Sangrama Sangrahalaya, Museum
of the Independence movement, displaying letters, photos, n
» Diwan-i-Am (Public Audience Hall) : In this elegant hall, the
Emperor use to sit daily on a royal marble throne with decorative marble
panels behind. This was the place where the emperor use to hear complaints
or disputes from his subjects and to deal with administrative matters.
» The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) : It is made of
marble was where the Emperor held private meetings and received important
guests seated on his priceless Peacock Throne.
» Hamams : The Royal Baths or Hamams has three apartments
surrounded by domes, where royal people took hot and perfumed baths. The
apartments on either side had hot and cold baths and are separated by
corridors with canals to carry water to each room.
Access
» By Air : Indira Gandhi International Airport is located at
23km southwest of Central Delhi and the domestic terminal at Palam is 5km
away from the international terminal.
» By Rail : The city has two major railway stations in New
Delhi and Old Delhi. Delhi offers Express trains to all parts of the
country.
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