A short information on red fort in delhi built by british?
Red Fort, known in Hindi/Urdu as Lal Qila, refers to one of two Mughal residences, either the one in Delhi or the one in Agra. The name derives from the red sandstone used in the construction.
The Red Fort was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. He moved his capital from Agra in a move designed to bring prestige to his reign, and to provide ample opportunity to apply his ambitious building schemes and interests. The Red Fort stands at the eastern edge of Shahjahanabad, and gets its name from the massive wall of red sandstone that defines its four sides. The wall is 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long, and varies in height from 60ft (16m) on the river side to 110 ft (33 m) towards the city. Measurements have shown that the plan was generated using a square grid of 82 m.
The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats that surround most of the wall. The wall at its north-eastern corner is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, a defense built by Islam Shah Sur in 1546.
On 11 March 1783 Sikhs entered Red fort in Delhi and occupied the Diwan-i-Am. This task was carried out under the command of the Sardar Baghel Singh Dhaliwal of the Karor Singhia misl.
(Sardar Baghel Singh Dhaliwal patrolling with men from his misl.)
The Red Fort was conceived as a whole, and subsequent modifications have not taken away from the overall unity of the scheme. In the 18th century, however, occupiers and looters damaged some sections of the palace. After the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, when the Fort was used as a headquarters, the British army occupied and destroyed many of its pavilions and gardens. A program for restoring the surviving parts of the fort began in 1903.
The Red Fort was originally white
The ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) has found traces of Mughal lime plaster (mixture of lime, gum, bael fruit and marble dust) on some parts of the fort. The original plaster is believed to have either faded or painted over by the British. While restoring the fort, ASI plans to use Mughal lime plaster on those parts that were white. So the next time you visit this monument, don’t be surprised if some of the buildings within the premises like Mumtaz Mahal and Naubat Khana have changed colour!
Backgrounder
Red Fort, Delhi, popularly known as Lal Qila, constructed between A.D. 1639 and 1648 by Mughal emperor Shahjahan, was a part of the Shahjahanabad. Red Fort show-cases the very high level of art form and ornamental work. The art work in the Fort is a synthesis of Persian, European and Indian art which resulted in the development of unique Shahjahani style, which is rich in form, expression and colour. Red Fort, Delhi is one of the important building complexes of India which encapsulates a long period of Indian history and its arts. Its significance has transcended time and space. It is relevant as a symbol of architectural brilliance and power. The fort, located on the west bank of the river Yamuna, is octagonal in plan, with two longer sides on east and west and is provided with four gates viz. Lahori, Delhi, Yamuna and Salimgarh gate. The ramparts, covering a perimeter of 2.41 km. have a moat all along on the outside, which originally was connected with the river Yamuna. On the north, the Red fort is connected with the Salimgarh Fort by a bridge. Lahori gate, a magnificent three-storeyed structure, later screened by a barbican by Aurangzeb, served as the main entrance. Palaces, lying on the eastern side of the Fort, are approached from the Lahori gate through a roofed passage, flanked by double-storeyed arcaded apartments called Chhatta-Chowk and being used as shops. The Delhi gate is flanked on the outside by two elephants, commissioned in 1903 by Lord Curzon in place of the original ones demolished by Aurangzeb.
A study of some of the old site plans, paintings and photographs, available at different places, shows that within the fort, a large number of the old enchanting buildings were demolished and replaced with military barracks and other modern constructions by the British after 1857. The British Army had occupied the Red Fort in 1857 and converted it into an army stronghold. They demolished a number of buildings to accommodate construction of barracks for their use. The fortress palace is an important focal point of the medieval city of the Shahjahanabad. The planning and aesthetics of the Red Fort represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which prevailed during the reign of the emperor Shahjahan. The fort has seen many layers of development after its construction by emperor Shahjahan. The significant phases of development were under Aurangzeb and later Mughal rulers. Important physical changes were carried out in the overall settings of the site after the First War of Independence during British Rule in 1857. After independence, the site experience, a few changes in terms of addition/ alteration to the structures.
Interesting Facts
Emperor Shahjahan sat on a Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Tavus) which was specially designed. This throne had peacocks standing behind it. The plumes of the peacocks were encrusted with sapphires, rubies, pearls, emeralds and various other precious stones. The famous Kohinoor diamond was placed in this throne. The throne stood on 4 feet of gold. Twelve columns rose above them and were decorated with diamonds, rubies, pearls and emeralds. In all, the throne had 116 emeralds and 108 large rubies. Four historical diamonds (Akbar Shah, the Jehangir, the Shah) including the Kohinoor decorated it apart from world’s second largest spinel ruby the Timur Ruby. Poems praising Shahjahan were embedded in emeralds on the throne. However, the throne has no traces in history after it was stolen by Nader Shah, a Persian ruler.
Emperor Shahjahan also built the great mausoleum, the Taj Mahal, in the loving memory of his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is also known as the ‘jewel of the Muslim art in India.’ A World Heritage Site, it is regarded as the symbol of eternal love.
On the day of his death, Emperor Shahjahan was one of the most powerful men on the earth as his empire spanned an area of 3,000,000 square kilometers. It is also believed that he commissioned 777 gardens in Kashmir; few of these have survived the sands of time and attract tourists even today. He is known as the greatest patron of art.
A crater is named after Shahjahan on the asteroid 433 Eros.
history
The Red Fort or Lal Quila as it is commonly known as, is an important landmark of the city of Delhi. The Mughal emperor Shahjahan built it when he shifted the imperial capital from Lahore to Delhi. The Red Fort reflected the might of the Mughals in the past and is now symbolic of India's independence. In fact it is a witness to the diverse yet glorious history of India. It was from here that the British deposed the last Mughal ruler, Bhadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the three century long Mughal rule. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime Minister of India, unfurled the Indian tricolor on the ramparts of this magnificent fort on 15 August 1947 marking the end of the British colonial rule. Since then, every year on Independence Day of India (15th of August), a grand function is held at Red Fort, where the prime minister of India unfurls the Indian tricolor and makes a speech from its ramparts.The Red Fort is a good example of Mughal military architecture. The tall ramparts, heavily fortified gateways, a moat surrounding the fort, etc., reflect the architectural skills of the Mughal rulers. The style of architecture followed in building the monuments within the periphery of this fort conforms to the Islamic style with liberal local influences.Shahjahan, the fifth emperor of the Mughal Dynasty and grandson of Akbar, moved the imperial capital back to Delhi from Agra in 1638. Within eight years, Shahjahanabad was completed with the Red Fort-the then Quila-I-Mubarak (fortunate citadel) ready in all its magnificence to receive Shahjahan. Though much has changed now because of large-scale demolitions during the British occupation of the fort, its important structures have survived.The Red Fort gets its name from the use of red sandstone in its construction. It is situated on the western banks of the Yamuna (which has since changed its course). The walls of this fort extend for 2 km and vary in height. The height of the walls is 18 m on the riverside, while it is 33 m on the city side. The fort has two important gateways-Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate. The Lahori Gate is the main entrance to the Red Fort. The gate faces the direction to Lahore (now in Pakistan), hence the name Lahori Gate. The gate forms a part of a massive stone fortification and is made up of dull pink sandstone. The grassy area above this massive gateway and below the tall ramparts of the fort is the place from where the prime minister of India addresses and leads the nation in celebrating the Independence Day.There are a number of important and interesting buildings within the Red Fort. As soon as one enters the Lahori Gate, one finds himself in a vaulted arcade-the Chatta Chowk-that is full of shops selling souvenirs and gift articles. During the time of the Mughals, the shopkeepers used to sell silk items, jewelry, and gold. This arcade of shops was then known as the Meena Bazaar. The arcade leads to the Naubat Khana (drum house), where musicians played for the emperor and announced the arrival of the royalty and important dignitaries.Passing the Naubat Khana, one comes face to face with the Diwan-I-Aam (hall of public audience). It was in this flat-roof hall, having rows of cusped arches, that the emperor met his subjects. The emperor sat on a lavish marble-paneled throne set within an inlaid and painted alcove, built into the back wall of the hall. The throne was also studded with precious stones. A platform is located below the throne where the announcer read out royal farmans (royal edict) and list of gifts to be handed out to important people.The Diwan-I-Aam served as a screen that protected the royal quarters behind it from the prying eyes of outsiders. The private quarters of the royalty consisted of a number of buildings. The Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience), made out of white marble, is a luxurious chamber where the emperor held private meetings with important people or with other members of the royal family. The roof and walls of this hall were painted and decorated with inlay work (pietra dura). Though precious stones from the inlay work have gone, the original splendor remains. The floral patterns that are still there reflect the high degree of skill of the Mughal artisans. The centerpiece of this hall was the magnificent Peacock Throne. It is said that the throne was built out of solid gold and had figures of peacocks standing behind it. However, presently, one can only see the marble pedestal on which the throne used to rest. The other important feature of this hall was that it had a ceiling made out of silver. Inscribed on the walls of the Diwan-I-Khas is the famous Persian couplet: "Gar firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto" (If there is a paradise on the face of the earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.).Next to the Diwan-I-Khas are the hammams or royal baths; these consist of three rooms topped by domes, with a fountain in the center. These rooms have floors and walls made of marble and inlaid with precious stones. Near the hammams is a three-story octagonal structure called the Shahi Burj (royal tower), which was emperor Shahjahan's private working area. The waterworks from this tower on the northeastern part of the fort go to the Rang Mahal (palace of the chief queen) in the south. To the west of the royal baths is the Moti Masjid (pearl mosque) built in AD 1659 by Aurangzeb (Shahjahan's son) for his personal use.The Khas Mahal (special palace), to the south of the Diwan-I-Khas, was the emperor's private palace. It is divided into rooms for sleeping, living, and worship. Like the Diwan-I-Khas, the Khas Mahal has splendid cusped arches set in white marble. It is profusely decorated with inlay work and the apartment has windows with finely patterned trelliswork overlooking the river. The Rang Mahal (recreation palace) is to the south of the Khas Mahal. The rooms in this palace have exquisite archways, trellises, channels, and fountains for cooling the interiors. The marble lotus, a fountain in the center of Rang Mahal, carved out of a single slab, is a piece of sheer beauty. In its sculptured grandeur, the lotus is matched only by the trellis wall under the scales of justice in the Khwab Gah. Water flowing from the Shahi Burj used to end up here. The Rang Mahal was the residence of the chief queen. The Mumtaz Mahal (the palace of Mumtaz, the chief queen of Shahjahan) has now been converted into a museum and contains artifacts belonging to the Mughal era.
Important structures
Diwan-i-Aam
In the Diwan-i-Aam or the Hall of Public Audiences the emperor, seated in a canopied alcove, would hear complaints and pleas of the commoners through a jharokha (balcony). The hall was ornamented with stuccowork and featured a series of gold columns. It also included a large railing that separated the commoners from the emperor. The Diwan-i-Aam was also used for state functions.The spacious mardana or courtyard behind the Diwan-i-Aam is surrounded by several interesting structures, though the function and purpose of some of them remain an enigma.
Diwan-i-Khas
In the Diwan-i-Khas or the Hall of Private Audiences the Emperor held private meetings with courtiers and state guests. The hall comprises a rectangular chamber with engraved arched openings supported on piers, on all of its sides. Each of the piers is gilded, painted and decorated with floral designs. Pillared chatris (umbrellas) cover the corners of the roof. At the centre of the chamber, the famous Peacock Throne throne was placed over a marble pedestal. The throne was looted in 1739 by Nadir Shah. Two of the marble pedestals were taken away by Captain Tytler from the fort after the 1857 uprising and one of these is located at the New York Metropolitan Museum. In 1760, the Marathas removed and melted the Silver ceiling of the Diwan-i-Khas to generate funds for the defence of Delhi from the Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Durrani. Nahr-i-Bihisht or the "stream of paradise" flowed through the centre of the hall. The arches at the corner of the walls contain the inscription of the famous verse of the 13th century Sufi poet Amir Khusrow, which reads– "Agar Firdaus Bar Rooe Zaminast Haminasto Haminasto Haminast" ("If there be a paradise on the earth, it is this, it is this, it is this").
Nahr-i-Behisht
The imperial private apartments lie behind the throne. The apartments consist of a row of pavilions that sits on a raised platform along the eastern edge of the fort, looking out onto the river Yamuna. The pavilions are connected by a continuous water channel, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht, or the "Stream of Paradise", that runs through the centre of each pavilion. The water is drawn from the river Yamuna, from a tower, the Shahi Burj, at the north-eastern corner of the fort. The palace is designed as an imitation of paradise as it is described in the Quran; a couplet repeatedly inscribed in the palace reads, "If there be a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here". The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals in its architectural elements the Hindu influences typical of Mughal building. The palace complex of the Red Fort is counted among the best examples of the Mughal style.
Naqqar Khana
Zenana
The two southernmost pavilions of the palace are zenanas, or women's quarters: the Mumtaz Mahal (now a museum), and the larger, lavish Rang Mahal, which has been famous for its gilded, decorated ceiling and marble pool, fed by the Nahr-i-Behisht.
Moti Masjid
Main article: Moti Masjid (Delhi)
To the west of the hammam is the Moti Masjid, the Pearl Mosque. This was a later addition, built in 1659 as a private mosque for Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan's successor. It is a small, three-domed mosque carved in white marble, with a three-arched screen which steps down to the courtyard.
The Moti Masjid measures approximately 12 x 9 metres, with a height of nearly 8 metres.
Hayat Bakhsh Bagh
Mughals brought with them the West Asian tradition of developing gardens to symbolically represent paradise on earth. Planning and design of the Hayat Bakhsh Bagh or "Life-Bestowing Garden" was integrated into the design of the Red Fort. The garden comprised many aesthetically designed structures such as, tanks, pavilions, water channels and fountains which complimented flowers of varying colours and trees of various kinds. The pavilions were decorated with stonework and lit by lamps at night. A few other smaller gardens like the Mehtab Bagh (moonlight garden) were also constructed in the Red Fort.[6]:07 Two pavilions called Savon and Bhadon stand at either end of the north-south channel. Two smaller pavilions were added in 1842 by the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, one of which still stands along the eastern wall.
List of tourist attractions in Delhi
1 Lutyens' Delhi
1 India Gate and Rajpath
2 Sansad Bhavan
3 Rashtrapati Bhawan
4 Connaught Place
5 Lodhi Gardens
2 Mughal monuments
1 Humayun's Tomb
2 Purana Quila
3 Red Fort
4 Salimgarh Fort
5 Chandni Chowk
6 Safdarjung's Tomb
3 Earlier monuments
1 Qutub Minar
2 Tughlaqabad
4 Places of worship
1 Akshardham Temple
2 Laxminarayan Temple
3 Cathedral Church of Redemption
4 Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
5 ISKCON Temple
6 Jama Masjid
7 Lotus Temple
8 St. James' Church
5 Museums
1 National Agricultural Science Museum
2 National Museum, New Delhi
3 National Rail Museum
6 Other attractions
1 Jantar Mantar
2 Lodhi Gardens
3 Nizamuddin Dargah
4 Raj Ghat
5 Shanti Vana
