One of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture
is the Lal Quila or the Red Fort. Built
by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648, the Red
Fort has walls extending up to 2 kms. in length with the height
varying from 18 mts. on the river side to 33 mts. on the city side.
The entry to this splendid fort is from the Lahori Gate or the Chatta
Chowk. Lal Quila is now a busy market place called the 'Meena Bazaar'.
This bazaar has an excellent collection of antiques, miniature paintings
and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewellery. The bazaar also sells
some fabulous carpets beautifully woven. Just beyond the Chhata
Chowk, is the heart of the fort called Naubat Khana, or the Drum
House. Musicians used to play for the emperor from the Naubat Khana,
and the arrival of princes and royalty was heralded from here.
The Fort sports all the obvious trappings befitting a vital centre
of Mughal governance: halls of public and private audiences, domed
and arched marble palaces, plush private apartments, a mosque, and
elaborately designed gardens. Even today, the Fort remains an impressive
testimony to Mughal grandeur, despite being attacked by the Persian
Emperor Nadir Shah in 1739, and by the British soldiers, during
the war of independence in 1857.
The Fort also houses the Diwan-i-Am or the Hall of Public Audiences,
where the Emperor would sit on a marbled paneled alcove, studded
with gems, and hear complaints of the common people. The Diwan-i-Khas
is the hall of Private Audiences, where the Emperor held private
meetings. This hall is made of marble, and its centre-piece used
to be the Peacock Throne, which was studded with rubies and gems
and was carried away to Iran by Nadir Shah in 1739. Today, although
the Diwan-i-Khas is only a pale shadow of its original glory, yet
the verse of Amir Khusro " If there is Paradise on the face
of earth, it is here, it is here, it is here" reminds us of
its former glory.
The Rang Mahal or the 'Palace of Colours' as it is known, holds
a spectacular Lotus shaped fountain, made out of a single piece
of marble, and housed the Emperor's wives and mistresses. The palace
was decorated with excellent paintings, gold bordered projections,
mosaics of mirrors and the ceiling was made with gold and silver
which wonderfully reflected in a central pool in the marble floor.
The other attractions enclosed within this monument are the hammams
or the Royal Baths, the Shahi Burj, which used to be Shahjahan's
private working area, and the Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, built
by Aurangzeb for his personal use.
Even today, the Lal Quila is an eloquent reminder of the glory of
the Mughal era, and its magnificence simply leaves one awestruck.
It is still a calm haven of peace, which helps one to break away,
from noisy and busy life outside the walls of the Fort, and transports
the visitor to another realm of existence. Sound and light shows
or son et lumiere as it is better known, highlighting particular
phases of history are held here. The shows are in Hindi and English
with tickets costing Rs. 20, available at the Fort. The English
seasons are from November to January at 7.30 p.m., in January to
April and September to October at 8.30 p.m. and from May to August
at 9 p.m.