Red Fort, Delhi

Built by

Emperor Shah Jahan

Completed

1648

Ideal time needed

2 to 3 hours

Best time

November to February

Status

UNESCO World Heritage Site

History

Shah Jahan moved the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi and built this fort as the seat of his court. Mughal emperors lived here for close to 200 years, until the rebellion of 1857, after which the British took control and altered many of the buildings.

On 15 August 1947 the Indian flag was raised here, and the tradition continues each year with the Prime Minister's Independence Day address from the Lahori Gate ramparts.

What to see

The architecture mixes Persian and Timurid ideas with Indian craft traditions. Inside the walls, marble pavilions, gardens and water channels once formed a planned palace complex. Look for these highlights as you walk through:

• Lahori Gate, the main entrance
• Chatta Chowk, the covered bazaar
• Diwan-i-Aam, the hall of public audience
• Diwan-i-Khas, the hall of private audience
• Rang Mahal and the royal apartments
• Moti Masjid, the small pearl mosque

Tips for your visit

Allow two to three hours to see the main buildings without hurrying. Mornings in winter, from November to February, are the most comfortable time, as Delhi summers are very hot. The fort is usually closed on Mondays, and tickets are sold online and at the gate, so check the current rules before you go. An evening sound and light show tells the fort's story when it is running.

Chandni Chowk lies just across the road, and Jama Masjid is a short rickshaw ride away, so the three make a natural Old Delhi half day.

How to reach

The Lal Qila station on the Delhi Metro Violet Line is close to the gate, and Chandni Chowk station on the Yellow Line is also within walking distance. Old Delhi railway station is nearby, and Indira Gandhi International Airport is a drive of about an hour depending on traffic. We can include the Red Fort in a Delhi or Golden Triangle tour.

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