Red Fort
Red Fort is laid out along the river Yamuna as an irregular octagon ,
surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 km in circumference and is built of
red sandstone. The Mughal king Shah Jahan transfered the capital from
Agra to Delhi and the Fort was completed in 1648. The fort has two main
entrances , the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate which faces the famed
Chandni Chowk market
With a circumference of almost one and a half miles, the fort is an
irregular octagon and has two entrances, the Lahore and Delhi Gates.
Form the Lahore Gate, a visitor has access to the Chatta Chowk (vaulted
arcade ) which as once a royal market and housed court jewelers,
miniature painters carpet manufacturers, workers in enamel, silk weavers
and families of specialized craftsmen. The road from the royal market
leads to the Nawabarkhana (band house) where the royal band played five
times a day. The band house also marks the entry into the main palace
and all visitors, except royalty had to dismount here
The two most famous buildings of the Red Fort are the Hall
of Public Audience (Diwan-i-Am), where the grand mughal presided from a
royal alcove which contained the Peacock Throne, and the smaller Hall of
Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas). The decorated white-marble walls of the
latter, considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture, are inscribed
with a couplet in Persian that has been translated in English as: "If
there is a heaven on earth, it is thisit is this." Other
features in the Red Fort are the Painted Palace (Rang Mahal) and the
Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid). Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the First Prime
Minister of India hoised the Flag on 15th August 1947 at the Red Fort.
It proclaimed Free & Independent Nation. This flag replaced the
British Union Jack which had flown over India for 200 years.
Architecture of Red Fort
¤ Khas Mahal - a place with emperor's private quarters.
¤ Diwan-e-am - A place specified for public audiences.
¤ Diwan-e-Khas - It was for organising the private meetings by the
emperor.
¤ Shah Burj - A place where secret meetings took place.
¤ Moti Masjit - Built by Aurangzeb for his personal use.
Other building of interest in the Red Fort complex are the Musamman
Burg (Octagonal tower), Khwabgah (bedroom) and the Hammam (royal baths).
