Red Fort, New Delhi

Red Fort, New Delhi

The Lal Qila or Red Fort is one of Delhi's top tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its imposing architecture that fuses Persian, Timurid and Hindu styles.

The Lal Qila or Red Fort is one of Delhi's top tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its imposing architecture that fuses Persian, Timurid and Hindu styles. The brilliant red sandstone fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (who also built Agra's Taj Mahal) as his ruling palace in 1648, and was in use by the Mughals till the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Take a guided tour to learn more about the history of this important monument.

It is laid out as an irregular octagonal citadel of red sandstone walls with 2 main gates (Lahori in the west and Delhi in the south) enclosing marble palaces and other royal buildings. Walk around to explore the different buildings and the Hayat-Bakhsh Bagh (Life Giving Garden).

• The Diwan-i-Am was the Hall of Public Audience, with a marble dais for the throne under a marble canopy and beautiful panels of Florentine pietra dura work on the wall behind. The entrance is through the Naqqar Khana (Drum House) where once ceremonial beats were struck, but today it houses the Indian War Memorial Museum.
• The Diwan-i-Khas was the Hall of Private Audience made completely of marble. It is a highly-ornamented pillared hall with a flat ceiling supported on engrailed arches. Its marble dais is said to have supported the famous Peacock Throne, plundered away by the Persian invader Nadir Shah.
• The Khas Mahal was the Emperor's main residence, comprising three parts - ● Tasbih-Khana (Chamber for Telling Beads) with three rooms and a marble screen illustrating the Mizan-i-adal (Scales of Justice), which are suspended over a crescent amidst stars and clouds, ●Khwabgah (Dream Palace) the sleeping chamber, ● Tosha-Khana (wardrobe) with baithak (sitting chamber). The Khas Mahal is connected to the octagonal Mussaman Burj tower where the Emperor used to appear before the public each morning in a ceremony called the Jharokha Darshan. A small balcony, which projects from the Burj, was added here in 1808 by Akbar Shah II, and it was from this balcony that King George V and Queen Mary appeared before the people of Delhi in December 1911.
• Behind the Diwan-i-Am but separated by a court is the Rang-Mahal (Color Palace), the residence of Queen Mumtaz Mahal with colourful interiors and a central marble basin fitted with an ivory fountain.
• The Mumtaz-Mahal (Jewel Palace) was originally a harem apartment in the imperial seraglio, but now houses the Delhi Fort Museum.
• The Hammam (Bath) is built of marble and inlaid with coloured stones. It has provisions for hot and cold water, as well as a fountain that supposedly spurted out rose water.
• Other buildings in the complex include the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), Zafar Mahal, Daawat Khana, Shahi Burj (Emperor’s study) and Museum of the Independence Movement.

You can also explore the Chatta Chowk (Covered Bazaar) at the gate leading to the fort and pick up souvenirs.

There is a 60 minute sound and light show on the history of Delhi and the Red Fort organized in the complex every evening at

February to April		8:30 pm
May to August		9.00 pm
September to October		8.30 pm
November to January		7.30 pm

You can book your tickets for the show in advance below.