Red Fort – Diving Into The Mughal Fort In 2024

History of Red Fort and its significance

The Red Fort in Old Delhi was constructed during Shah Jahan’s Mughal reign when he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi in 1638. The structure was completed after 10 years in the year 1648.

The architect of the fort was a Persian architect named Ahmad Lahori. If you have visited the Agra Fort, you can see the similarities between the two as Shah Jahan modeled the Red Fort after the Agra Fort.

Aurangzeb seized the throne in 1658 and Shah Jahan was imprisoned in Agra Fort. The Red Fort’s splendor declined with the Mughal rule as the Fort was plundered by the Persian ruler Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739.

The weakened Mughals had to submit to the Marathas in 1752 and the fort lost more riches when the Marathas decided to melt the silver ceiling of the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Audience) to defend Delhi from the invasion of Emperor Ahmed Shah from Afghanistan.

The Mughals were completely depleted of their riches and power and Emperor Shah Alam II, the Mughal ruler in 1772 was subjected to a lot of wars and raids from the Sikhs, who had successfully captured the fort for a while.

The British East India Company removed the Marathas from the Fort after the second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803.

Until 1857 the Mughals were living in the Fort supported by the British, but a dramatic turn of events (the famous rebellion of 1857) led to the British removing the Mughals from the Red Fort and started looting the riches and destroying the structure. The British converted the Red Fort into a garrison and hoisted their flag on it.

The Indian National Army faced trial by the British at the Red Fort in the years 1945 and 1946.

When India finally gained independence in 1947, the Red Fort became the main site for public celebration. The Fort became a symbol of freedom and the first Prime Minister of India hoisted the Indian flag there.

Every year on Independence Day, August 15, the Prime Minister raises the National Flag and makes the National Address in the Red Fort. The story of Red Fort is something read in history books now due to its massive importance to Indian people.

Things to see at the Red Fort

As you enter through the Lahore Gate – the front entrance – you reach the Meena Bazaar where they sell souvenirs and handicrafts – a great place for shopping in Red Fort. The area has been renovated to give it a more authentic Mughal look.

Inside the Fort, beyond the Bazaar, you can visit the Naubat Khana – an area where the royal musicians played on special occasions and sometimes the arrival of royalty. A section of the area was converted into a War Memorial Museum with a display of ancient war artifacts.

The famous pillared Diwan-i-am, where the king used to hear grievances from his subjects is beyond the Naubat Khana.

The Mumtaz Mahal (palace of Shah Jahan’s wife) also lies inside the Fort. It is now the Red Fort Archaeological Museum which houses artifacts from the Mughal era.

The Rang Mahal – an area where the emperor’s harem lived is also located inside the Fort.

There were four new museums inaugurated in the Red Fort in January 2019. The Kranti Mandir is a museum complex made in tribute to the Indian freedom fighters.

Location, Timings, and Accommodation near Red Fort

The Red Fort opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm. It opens from Tuesday till Sunday and remains closed on Mondays.

The ticket prices of Red Fort vary from the places you intend to visit. The entry fee for Indians is INR 35 and for foreigners is INR 500. If you want to visit the museum as well, you have to pay INR 56 and INR 870 for foreigners.  An additional INR 15 is included for carrying a video camera.

There are separate prices for going to the “Light and Sound” show held in the evenings in the Red Fort.

Some of the reasonable places to stay near the Red Fort are:

1. Homestay Ac Dormitory
2. Gostops Delhi
3. Kastle Guest House

A Nod to the Fallen