Red fort, Delhi

The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila is a historic Mughal fort in Delhi which was the primary residence of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan authorized the construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1639, following his decision to relocate the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. It was originally decorated in red and white, the fort's design is attributed to Ustad Ahmad Lahori, architect of Taj Mahal.

The Red Fort represents the crown of Mughal architecture during Shah Jahan's reign, blending Persian palace influences with original Indian architectural traditions. The name Red Fort is a translation of the Hindustani Lal Qila deriving from its red sandstone walls. The term Lal in Hindi means 'red', while Qila is a Arabic word which means "fortress".

History

Shah Jahan authorized construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1639, following his decision to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. The fort is situated on the banks of the Yamuna river, which fed the moats(protective barriers) surrounding most of the walls.

Its construction began in the Islamic month of Muharram, on 13 May 1638. It was supervised by Shah Jahan, it was completed on 6th April 1648. The fortress Palace served as the centerpiece of Shahjahanabad, the city now known as Old Delhi. 

Archaeological excavations at the Red Fort have found out several Ochre Coloured Pottery culture artefacts dating from 2600 BCE to 1200 BCE.

How To Reach

Old Delhi railway station is around 1.4 KM from the fort and can be reached by taking a local bus or auto from the railway station. Delhi bus stand is at a distance of around 2 KM from the fort.