Red Fort — Attraction in Delhi

The Red Fort, or Lal Qila, in the heart of Old Delhi, stands as a monumental reminder of India’s rich and turbulent history. Built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is not just an architectural marvel but also a symbol of India’s cultural and political journey.

As soon as you arrive, the massive red sandstone walls, rising up to 33 meters, instantly command attention. The main entrance, Lahori Gate, is always bustling with tourists, school groups, and history lovers. Security is tight, but entry is smooth, with tickets available online and offline. Entry fees for Indian citizens are reasonable, and there’s a separate line for foreigners.

Once inside, you're transported back in time. The first structure you’ll encounter is the Chatta Chowk, a covered bazaar where Mughal-era traders once sold silk, jewelry, and spices. Today, it’s filled with souvenir shops offering miniature replicas of the fort, handcrafted items, and colorful local textiles.

The fort complex is vast, spread over 250 acres, and it's best to allocate 2–3 hours to explore it properly. The Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) and the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) are highlights. Intricately carved pillars, white marble inlays, and floral motifs reflect the artistic brilliance of Mughal architecture. Standing in the Diwan-i-Khas, one can almost imagine the emperor seated on the famed Peacock Throne, listening to matters of the state.

One of the most underrated spots inside the fort is the Rang Mahal, once the harem of the royal women. Its beautifully decorated ceilings and marble water channels (part of the fort’s cooling system) are awe-inspiring. Don’t miss the Moti Masjid, a small but elegant private mosque built by Aurangzeb.

What makes the Red Fort truly special is its living history. Every year on Independence Day (August 15), the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag and addresses the nation from its ramparts. That tradition alone gives the monument a powerful national significance.

The lawns are well maintained, and information boards are placed around the fort, although hiring a guide or getting the audio tour can enhance the experience. It provides historical context and interesting anecdotes you wouldn’t get otherwise. There’s also a museum complex inside the fort that showcases arms, paintings, and documents from the Mughal and British periods.

For photography lovers, the fort is a dream. The play of light and shadow on red sandstone creates some dramatic frames, especially during sunrise or just before sunset. Nighttime lighting adds a magical glow, and there's even a sound and light show held in the evening in both Hindi and English, narrating the fort’s glorious past.

Tips for Visitors:

Best time to visit: October to March (cooler weather)

Avoid weekends and public holidays to skip large crowds

Carry water and wear comfortable shoes – the area is quite expansive

Try the local street food outside the fort gates (Chandni...

Red Fort, Delhi – A Stroll Through Power, Poetry, and Time

Stepping into the Red Fort isn’t just a sightseeing affair — it’s a plunge into a regal canvas where every stone still murmurs the tales of empire, elegance, and endurance. I had the chance to visit this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site on a sunlit Friday afternoon, and what unfolded before me was far grander than just red sandstone and domes.

The iconic Lahori Gate, rising high and proud, is more than just an entry point. It’s a symbol of India’s sovereignty, from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation every Independence Day. Crossing its threshold felt like stepping into a chronicle — the kind where emperors once rode in with their entourage and the air buzzed with imperial command.

Inside, the Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) is a poetic fusion of space and symmetry. The long arched hall, supported by delicately carved columns, once hosted the emperor receiving petitions from his subjects. Standing there, I couldn’t help but picture Shah Jahan seated under his resplendent Peacock Throne, the crowd hushed in anticipation.

Wandering deeper, I encountered the remnants of the imperial apartments, serene gardens, and mysterious pavilions — including the charming Rang Mahal, once glittering with mirrors and vibrant hues, now quietly dignified. The stillness of the water channels (Nahr-i-Bihisht or ‘Stream of Paradise’) whispered of a time when water cooled the palace air and poetry was as essential as power.

One of the highlights was seeing the Mumtaz Mahal and other lesser-known ruins— structures that may be weathered and sun-kissed today, but once thrummed with courtly drama, music, and whispers of history.

The Red Fort isn’t just a monument — it’s a layered legacy of the Mughal zenith, British occupation, and India's independence journey. While much of the interiors are altered or lost to time, its architectural grandeur and spiritual gravity remain undiminished.

Pro Tips:

Best visited early morning or late afternoon for softer light and cooler weather.

Wear comfy shoes — the fort complex is huge and deserves unhurried exploration.

Take time to observe the small things: the lattice work, the domed chhatris, and echoes that seem to follow you around.

It’s easy to be awed by Red Fort’s size — but it’s its silent resilience and layered stories that leave a lasting impression. Highly recommended for history lovers, architecture buffs, and anyone with a heart...

Red Fort, Mughal fort in Old Delhi, India. It was built by Shah Jahān in the mid-17th century and remains a major tourist attraction. The fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. The fort’s massive red sandstone walls, which stand 75 feet (23 metres) high, enclose a complex of palaces and entertainment halls, projecting balconies, baths and indoor canals, and geometrical gardens, as well as an ornate mosque. Among the most famous structures of the complex are the Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-ʿAm), which has 60 red sandstone pillars supporting a flat roof, and the Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas), which is smaller and has a pavilion of white marble. An earlier red fort had been built in Old Delhi in the 11th century by the Tomara king Anangapala. The Quṭb Mosque now stands on the site. Delhi sultanate, principal Muslim sultanate in north India from the 13th to the 16th century. Its creation owed much to the campaigns of Muʿizz al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Sām (Muḥammad of Ghūr; brother of Sultan Ghiyāth al-Dīn of Ghūr) and his lieutenant Quṭb al-Dīn Aibak between 1175 and 1206 and particularly to victories at the battles of Taraōrī in 1192 and Chandawar in 1194.

The Ghūrid soldiers of fortune in India did not sever their political connection with Ghūr (now Ghowr, in present Afghanistan) until Sultan Iltutmish (reigned 1211–36) had made his permanent capital at Delhi, had repulsed rival attempts to take over the Ghūrid conquests in India, and had withdrawn his forces from contact with the Mongol armies, which by the 1220s had conquered Afghanistan. Iltutmish also gained firm control of the main urban strategic centres of the North Indian Plain, from which he could keep in check the refractory Rajput chiefs. After Iltutmish’s death, a decade of factional struggle was followed by nearly 40 years of stability under Ghiyāth al-Dīn Balban, sultan in 1266–87. During this period Delhi remained on the defensive against the Mongols and undertook only precautionary measures against the Rajputs. Under the sultans of the Khaljī dynasty (1290–1320), the Delhi sultanate became an imperial power. ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn (reigned 1296–1316) conquered Gujarat (c. 1297) and the principal fortified places in Rajasthan (1301–12) and reduced to vassalage the principal Hindu kingdoms of southern India (1307–12). His forces also defeated serious Mongol onslaughts by the Chagatais of Transoxania...