Red Fort-Delhi
Location - Netaji Subhash Marg, Lal Qila, Chandni Chowk, New
Delhi, Delhi 110006
The Red Fort is a historic fort in the city of Delhi in
India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal dynasty for
nearly 200 years, until 1856. It is located in the center of Delhi and houses a
number of museums. In addition to accommodating the emperors and their
households, it was the ceremonial and political center of the Mughal state and
the setting for events critically impacting the region.
Constructed in 1639 by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
as the palace of his fortified capital Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is named for
its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone and is adjacent to the older
Salimgarh Fort, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546. The imperial apartments
consist of a row of pavilions, connected by a water channel known as the Stream
of Paradise (Nahr-i-Bihisht). The fort complex is considered to represent the
zenith of Mughal creativity under Shah Jahan,[citation needed] and although the
palace was planned according to Islamic prototypes, each pavilion contains
architectural elements typical of Mughal buildings that reflect a fusion of
Timurid and Persian traditions. The Red Fort’s innovative architectural style,
including its garden design, influenced later buildings and gardens in Delhi,
Rajasthan, Punjab, Kashmir, Braj, Rohilkhand and elsewhere.
Every year on the Independence day of India (15 August), the
Prime Minister hoists the Indian "tricolour flag" at the main gate of
the fort and delivers a nationally-broadcast speech from its ramparts. It was
designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 as part of the Red Fort
Complex.
