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One of the most spectacular pieces of Mughal Architecture is the Lal Quila
in Delhi 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. |
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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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