Imagine a world of emperors, opulent courts, and grand declarations. This is the Red Fort.
Welcome to the Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila. This historic fort served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned this construction on May 12, 1639. He wanted to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi.
Originally, the Red Fort was red and white. Its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori. He also constructed the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort represents the peak of Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan. It combines Persian palace architecture with Indian traditions.
Interestingly, the name Red Fort is a translation of Lal Qila. Lal means red in Hindi. Qila means fortress in Arabic. The Red Fort was originally called the Blessed Fort.
Construction began in the sacred Islamic month of Muharram on May 13, 1638. Shah Jahan supervised the work and it was completed on April 6, 1648. The Red Fort’s boundary walls are asymmetrical. This was to incorporate the older Salimgarh Fort. The Red Fort became the centerpiece of Shahjahanabad now known as Old Delhi.
After Emperor Aurangzeb died, the Mughal dynasty declined. The palace fell into disrepair during the 18th century. In 1739, Nadir Shah of Persia defeated the Mughal army. He plundered the Red Fort. He seized treasures including the Peacock Throne.
The Marathas signed a treaty in 1752. It established them as protectors of the throne in Delhi. In 1760, they stripped the silver ceiling of the Diwan-i-Khas. This was to raise funds to defend Delhi. In 1761, Ahmed Shah Durrani raided Delhi.
In 1764, the Jat ruler Maharaja Jawahar Singh attacked Delhi. He captured the Red Fort on February 5, 1765. The Jats seized the Mughal throne and the fort’s doors as trophies.
In 1783, Sikh Misls conquered Delhi and the Red Fort. They agreed to withdraw and reinstate the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II after negotiations. In 1788, a Maratha garrison occupied the Red Fort.
The East India Company gained control after the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, became a symbol of the 1857 rebellion. After the rebellion, the British sacked the Red Fort. They ordered its systemic demolition. About 80% of the fort’s structures were destroyed.
Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India, began restoration efforts from 1899 to 1905. He reconstructed walls and revived gardens.
Most of the jewels and artwork were looted during Nadir Shah’s invasion in 1747. More looting happened after the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
On August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate. This marked India’s independence. Every year, on Independence Day, the Prime Minister hoists the flag at the Red Fort’s main gate. They also deliver a nationally broadcast speech.
The Red Fort Complex became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Today, the Red Fort stands as a powerful reminder of India’s past. It symbolizes sovereignty and independence. Its red sandstone walls echo with stories of Mughal grandeur. It remembers battles and the triumph of a nation. The Red Fort continues to be a focal point of national pride.