The garden is also built out with fountains and avenues of trees with names both common and scientific. Babur, the first Mughal emperor, brought the charbagh garden, a style influenced by Persian gardens, to India. It reflects the Paradise garden, which is derived from the Persian paridaeza, which means “walled garden,” and represents the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise). Paradise is depicted as a perfect landscape of plenty with four rivers flowing from a central spring or mountain, dividing the garden into the north, west, south, and east in mystic Islamic scriptures from the Mughal era.
During Nader Shah’s conquest of the Mughal Empire in 1739, the fort’s artwork and valuables were stolen. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British destroyed the majority of the fort’s marble buildings. The defensive walls of the fort remained greatly healthy and it was afterwards used as a garrison.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, hoisted the national flag over the Lahori Gate on August 15, 1947. On August 15, India’s Independence Day, the prime minister raises the Indian tricolor flag at the fort’s main entrance and makes a speech from its ramparts that is broadcast nationally through the Indian Army Signals Public Address System.
Part of the Red Fort Complex, the Red Fort was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Etymology:
The Hindustani L’l Qila (Hindi:, Urdu: ), which gets its name from the red sandstone walls, is translated as “Red Fort.” Lal, which means “Red” in Hindustani, and Qalàh, which means “Fortress” in Arabic, are both derivatives of the same root word. The fort was previously referred to as the “Blessed Fort” (Qila-i-Mubrak) since it was home to the imperial family. L’l Qila is another name for Agra Fort.
History:
When Shah Jahan chose to move his capital from Agra to Delhi on May 12, 1638, he ordered the Red Fort’s construction. Its original color scheme of red and white, Shah Jahan’s favorite colors, is ascribed to Taj Mahal architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori. The Yamuna River, which supplies water to the moats around much of the walls, flows beside the fort.On May 13, 1638, the first day of the holy Islamic month of Muharram, construction commenced. It was finished under Shah Jahan’s supervision on 6 April 1648.The Red Fort’s perimeter walls are asymmetrical, unlike those of other Mughal forts, in order to confine the older Salimgarh Fort.The fortress-palace served as the hub of Shahjahanabad, or what is now Old Delhi. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was erected to the emperor’s private quarters by Shah Jahan’s successor, Aurangzeb, who also built barbicans in front of the palace’s two major entrances to make it more difficult to enter.
After Aurangzeb, the Mughal dynasty’s fiscal and administrative systems deteriorated, and the palace began to decay in the 18th century. Jahandar Shah assumed the throne of the Mughals in 1712. After only a year of reigning, Shah was assassinated and succeeded by Farrukhsiyar. The powerful Mughal army of some 200,000 warriors was quickly routed in 1739 by the Persian ruler Nadir Shah,[15] who also pillaged the Red Fort and stole the Peacock Throne.After three months, Nadir Shah left a ruined city and a depleted Mughal kingdom to Muhammad Shah.[11]: 09 A 1752 pact made the Marathas the defenders of the throne in Delhi as a result of the internal weakness of the Mughal Empire, which reduced the Mughals to being merely nominal rulers of Delhi.[16][17] The Maratha victory at Sirhind in 1758, which was made possible by the Sikhs, and their subsequent defeat at Panipat[18] brought them into new disagreement with Ahmad Shah Durrani.
Archaeological discoveries:
Several pieces of Ochre Colored Pottery culture dated from 2600 BCE to 1200 BCE have been discovered during archaeological digs at the Red Fort.
Modern era:
One of Delhi’s most well-known tourist attractions and the city’s greatest landmark, the Red Fort, draws thousands of tourists each year. On India’s Independence Day (15 August), the prime minister of India raises the flag of the nation at the Red Fort and gives a speech from its ramparts that is aired nationally. The fort is also shown on the reverse of the 500 rupee Mahatma Gandhi New Series note.
2000 terrorist attack:
Six members of Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out a terrorist attack against the Red Fort on December 22, 2000. In what the news media reported as an effort to scuttle India-Pakistan peace talks, two military and a civilian were killed.
Security:
On the eve of Indian Independence Day, security surrounding the Red Fort is particularly tight to stave against terrorist assaults. National Security Guard sharpshooters are stationed atop high-rise buildings close to the fort, while Delhi Police and paramilitary men patrol the communities around the fort.In order to prevent air strikes, the region around the fort is declared a no-fly zone during the festival. Additionally, there are safe houses nearby where the prime minister and other Indian officials may look for cover in the case of an attack.
Adoption controversy:
In accordance with a contract of 25 crores over a five-year term, Dalmia Bharat Group adopted the Red Fort in April 2018 as part of the government’s “Adopt A Heritage” program. The Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.) and the Ministries of Tourism and Culture jointly signed the agreement of cooperation.People were split over the fort’s adoption by a private entity, which brought punishment from the general public, rival political parties, and historians. Additionally, it gave rise to the Twitter hashtag #IndiaOnSale.[53] The Central Advisory Board of Archaeology or any other recognized body of specialists should conduct a “impartial review” of the agreement, the Indian History Congress demanded in May 2018.
Indian farmers protest on Republic Day in 2021:
On January 26, 2021, as part of the Indian farmers’ Republic Day demonstration, some of the protesters made it to the fort, entered it, raised religious flags from its walls, and scaled its domes. In front of the fort, a farmer was observed ascending a flagpole and raising the holy flag Nishan Sahib.Facilities within the fort were also damaged as a result of the altercation between farmers and police.Following police announcements, the fort was vacated.
Architecture:
The Red Fort is described as “the zenith of Mughal creativity” by the World Heritage Convention. The fort combines Islamic palace construction with regional customs to create a fusion of “Persian, Timurid, and Hindu architecture”. Later structures and gardens all throughout the Indian subcontinent were inspired by the fort.
The Red Fort is made up of 254.67 acres (103.06 hectares) and is surrounded by defensive walls that stretch 2.41 kilometers (1.50 miles). Turrets and bastions that range in height from 18 meters (59 feet) on the river side to 33 meters (108 feet) on the city side are scattered throughout the fort. The north-south axis of the octagonal fort is longer than the east-west axis. The fort’s two domes, marble, and floral decoration are examples of later Mughal construction.
It has a remarkable degree of elaboration, and it is said that the Kohinoor diamond was included in the furniture. The artwork in the fort combines Persian, European, and Indian elements to create a singular Shahjahani style that is full of shape, emotion, and color. One of the Indian architectural complexes that captures a significant amount of history and culture is the Red Fort. An attempt was made to conserve it for future generations even before it was commemorated in 1913 as a monument of national significance.
The Khizrabad Gate was for the monarch, while the Lahori and Delhi Gates were utilized by the general populace. The main entrance, the Lahori Gate, leads to the Chatta Chowk (covered bazaar), a dome-shaped retail district.
Major structures:
The walls and ramparts, the major gates, the audience rooms, and the imperial residences on the eastern riverside are the most significant remaining structures.
Lahori Gate:
The main entrance of the Red Fort is called the Lahori Gate since it faces the city of Lahore. The construction of a barbican, which Shah Jahan compared to “a veil drawn across the face of a beautiful woman,” during Aurangzeb’s rule changed the attractiveness of the gate. Since 1947, the national flag of India has been raised on Independence Day, and the prime minister has spoken from its ramparts.
Delhi Gate:
The Lahori Gate is identical in design and look to the Delhi Gate, which is the southern public entrance. On either side of the entry, two large stone elephants face one another.
Chhatta Chowk:
The Chhatta Chowk (or Meena Bazaar), where silk, jewelry, and other things for the imperial family were sold during the Mughal era, is located close to the Lahori Gate. Prior to then, this marketplace was referred to as Bazaar-i-Musaqqaf or Chatta-bazaar (both names denoting “roofed market”). The Red Fort’s Lahori Gate enters the fort through a huge north-south thoroughfare that once separated the fort’s military operations (to the west) from the palaces (to the east), then leads onto an open outer court. The Delhi Gate is located at the street’s southernmost terminus.
Naubat Khana:
The Naubat Khana, also known as Nakkar Khana (drum house), or “Waiting Hall” in Persian, is located on the east wall of the court. Every day at set intervals, music was played, and everyone but royalty had to dismount. According to legend, here is where Jahandar Shah (1712–13) and Farrukhsiyar (1713–19), two later Mughal monarchs, were assassinated. The second level is where you’ll find the Indian War Memorial Museum. The outer court, which spanned 540 by 360 feet (160 by 110 meters), is where the domed arcade of the Chhatta Chowk comes to an end. Following the 1857 uprising, the side arcades and center tank were destroyed.
Diwan-i-Aam:
The Nakkar Khana led to an inner main court that was 540 feet (160 m) wide by 420 feet (130 m) deep and enclosed by guarded galleries. The Diwan-i-Aam, or Public Audience Hall, is on the other side. Commoners who needed assistance with official things including tax problems, inherited complexities, and awqaf came here.
The hall was originally covered with white chunam stucco, and the columns and engrailed arches display superb craftsmanship. The emperor had his audience in the marble balcony (jharokha) in the elevated recess in the rear.
State affairs were also conducted at the Diwan-i-Aam. The royal rooms are accessible via the courtyard (mardana) behind it.
Mumtaz Mahal:
The Mumtaz Mahal, erected for Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal), wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and the bigger Rang Mahal, a resort for royal ladies, are the two south pavilions of the palace that serve as zenanas (women’s apartments). The Red Fort Historical Museum is housed in the Mumtaz Mahal.
Rang Mahal:
The wives and mistresses of the monarch resided in the Rang Mahal. Its appellation, “Palace of Colors,” refers to how colorfully painted and mirror mosaic-decorated it was. The Nahr-i-Bihisht (“River of Paradise”) supplies water to the central marble pool.
Khas Mahal:
The emperor’s residence was known as the Khas Mahal. By means of the Nahr-i-Bisht, it was cooled. The Muthamman Burj, an octagonal tower attached to it where he stood before the crowd gathered on the riverbank, stands nearby. The majority of rulers at the time did this.
Diwan-i-Khas:
The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) served as a venue for the royal family’s and novelty’s official business. The Diwan-i-Khas and the innermost court of the palace, the Jalau Khana, are accessible through a gate on the north side of the Diwan-i-Aam. It is made of white marble and has valuable stones set within it. The wooden ceiling, which was formerly silver, has been repaired. at the 17th century, François Bernier wrote about seeing the jeweled Peacock Throne at this location. A poem by the Persian author Amir Khusrow is inscribed over the two outer arches at either end of the hall:
This, this, and these are what paradise would look like if it were possible.
— “World Heritage Site – Red Fort, Delhi; Diwan-i-Khas” . India’s Archaeological Survey. obtained on August 15, 2012.
Hammam:
Three domed chambers with white marble flooring made up the hammam, which is Arabic for “bath,” which served as the royal baths. It is made up of three flats that are connected by hallways and have domes on top. A tinted glass skylight shines light into the flats. The royal children are thought to have taken baths in the two chambers on each side of the current entryway. Three fountain basins were located in the eastern apartment, which was mostly utilized as a dressing area. Each chamber had a fountain in the middle, and one of the rooms had a marble reservoir constructed into the wall. According to lore, fragrant rose water used to flow from the faucets. The heating system was installed in the western wall of the flat and was utilized for hot or vapor baths.
Baoli:
The baoli (step-well) at Delhi’s Red Fort
One of the few structures that the British did not destroy following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 was the baoli, or step-well. The baoli’s quarters were transformed into a jail. It served as housing for Indian National Army officers Shah Nawaz Khan (general), Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal, and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon during the Indian National Army Trials (Red Fort Trials) in 1945–1946. Two sets of stairs that descend to the well are a distinctive feature of the Red Fort Baoli.
Moti Mosque:
The Pearl Mosque, or Moti Masjid, is located west of the hammam. It is a later addition that was constructed in 1659 for Emperor Aurangzeb as a personal mosque. It is a little, white marble mosque with three domes and a screen with three arches leading to the courtyard.
Hira Mahal:
Built by Bahadur Shah II near the end of the Hayat Baksh garden, the Hira Mahal (“Diamond Palace”) is a pavilion on the southern extremity of the fort. A twin structure called the Moti Mahal on the northern border was destroyed during (or after) the 1857 uprising. The Shahi Burj, which translates to “Emperor’s Tower,” served as the emperor’s primary study. It once featured a chhatri on top. The tower, which was severely damaged, is currently being rebuilt. Emperor Aurangzeb constructed a marble pavilion in front of it.
Inn in Bakhsh Bagh:
The northeastern area of the compound is where you’ll find the Hayat Bakhsh Bagh (Persian: , lit. “Life-Bestowing Garden”). It has a reservoir that is currently empty as well as passages where the Nahr-i-Bihisht flows. A white marble pavilion with the names Sawan and Bhadon (after the Hindu months of Sawan and Bhadon) at either end. The red sandstone Zafar Mahal, built by Bahadur Shah Zafar in approximately 1842 and bearing his name, is located in the center of the reservoir.
West of it, there were maller gardens (such the Mehtab Bagh or Moonlight Garden), but these were destroyed when the British barracks were constructed. The gardens are going to be restored. The Salimgarh Fort and an arched bridge are located north of these on the way to the north.
The Princes’ Quarter:
The neighborhood of the imperial princes located to the north of the Shahi Burj and Hayat Bakhsh Bagh. This was utilized by a member of the Mughal royal family, and during the 1857 uprising, British soldiers totally destroyed it. A tea shop for the troops was made in one of the palaces.
