Lal Qila

The Lal Quila, or the Red Fort in the old city of Delhi is amongst the biggest forts in northern India. The fort is made of thick red sandstone walls with turrets and bastions. It was built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan, more known for the Taj Mahal. Shahjahan was shifting his capital from Agra to Delhi to escape the sweltring heat of central India. The construction work began in 1638 and it took 10 years to build the fort.

The Lal Quila rises above a wide dry moat, in the northeast corner of the original city of Shahjahanabad. It is situated on the banks of river Yamuna.Its walls extend upto two kilometre, and vary in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33 metres on the city side.

Entrance to the fort is through the imposing Lahore Gate, which as its name suggests faces Lahore, now in Pakistan. The main entrance opens on to the Meena Bazaar, a covered street flanked with arched cells, that used to house Delhi's most skilful jewellers, carpet makers, weavers and goldsmiths. Naubat Khana or drum house, which was used to herald entrance of big princes and entertain them, is also near the entrance.

The Fort also houses the Diwan-i-Aam or the Hall of Public Audiences, where the Emperor would sit and hear complaints of the common folk. The Diwan-i-Khas is the hall of private audiences, where the Emperor held private meetings, where 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."

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 Colors' 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.

The fort is now home to 7th Rajputana Rifles and an important tourist destination of Delhi. On every 15th August, the independence day of India, the Indian prime minister addresses the public from the fort.