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 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.
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