Red Fort

The Red Fort in Delhi is the second most magnificent creation of Shah Jahan after The Taj Mahal. This 17th century Fort of the Mughal Kings reflects the zenith of creativity prevalent in architecture during the Mughal Era. The Red Fort is a fusion of Indian, Persian and European Art. It is also famous for being the venue of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Freedom at Mid Night” speech on 15th Aug 1947 after India’s Independence. The sound and light show organized in the Red Fort in the evenings is a great way to experience its history and magnificence.

Lal Quila also called the Red Fort is one of the most important monuments of India. It stands on the bank of river Yamuna. The whole structure is made of Red stone. The fort was built by Shahjahan - the Mughal King who also built the famous Taj Mahal - in 1648. Shahjahan called it the Uru-Muhalla. Shahjahan shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi and Red Fort was the new capital. Lal Quila stands at the eastern side of Shahjahanabad and the very name of "Lal Quila" comes from the huge wall that encloses the whole structure. The wall is 2.5 km long and the height varies from 16 meters on the river side to 33 meters towards the city.One of the special attraction of the fort is the huge wall that encompasses the whole structure. The walls have two entrances, one at the delhi gate and the other at the Lahore gate. Lahore Gate is the main entrance point of the fort, leading to Chatta Chowk. It is a covered bazaar street where merchnants sold their goods to the nobles of the country.

Red Fort has a lot to offer to the visitors. There are many things that can only be seen and witnessed. You must visit the fort once and get to learn a lot about the great Mughal architecture. Being among the top tourist destinations of Delhi, Red Fort attracts thousands of visitors every year. Above all, the Red Fort has a very important purpose in the democracy of India. It is the site that is used for celebrating the Independence Day. The Prime Minister of India addresses the nation on August 15 from this very historical monument.

How to reach

The most convenient way of reaching Red Fort is my Delhi Metro. The Red Fort is closest to the Metro station of Chandni Chowk. It falls in the Yellow line of Delhi Metro running between Jahangirpuri and Huda city. Another option is to take the Delhi Transport Corporations Tourist Bus to Red Fort from Scindia House. This tour operates every day except Mondays and costs Rs 200.