The Red Fort, Delhi

didn't sleep well at all. I was woken by a storm in the early hours and never got back to sleep. Fiona slept through it most of it 😀.

We had Indian breakfast on the roof this morning - puri bhaji and parantha with curd. Afterwards, we took an auto to visit the Red Fort. The driver was a real risk taker and we had several very close shaves along the way. It was like being on a very scary fairground ride at times 😂.

We got dropped off in the midst of crowds of people and we had to fend off countless offers of help, guides, salesmen, etc. as we made our way to the ticket office. It was raining, too 😀.

Once we'd bought our tickets and got through security, we were able to enjoy the fort in our own time. It is an incredible structure with a fascinating history. 

The Red Fort is a historic Mughal fort located in Old Delhi. It served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan on the 12th of May 1639, the fort was constructed following his decision to shift the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally adorned in red and white, the fort's design is attributed to Ustad Ahmad Lahori, the architect of the Taj Mahal. The Red Fort is a prominent example of Mughal architecture from Shah Jahan's reign, combining Persian and Indian architectural styles.

During the invasion by Nadir Shah of the Afsharid Empire in 1739, the fort was plundered and stripped of its artwork and jewels. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many of its marble structures were demolished by the British, although the defensive walls remained largely intact. The fort was later repurposed as a military garrison.

On 15 August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, hoisted the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate, the main entrance of the Red Fort. Since then, the Prime Minister of India has ceremonially raised the national tricolour at the main gate each year on Independence Day, and delivered a nationally broadcast address from its ramparts.

The Red Fort, as part of the Red Fort Complex, was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

We entered the fort through Chhatta Chowk, a covered bazaar. This was very unusual in the 17th century. This one is unique in Mughal architecture. Shah Jahan based the design on one he'd seen in Peshawar (now Pakistan) in 1646.

Chhatta Chowk is a two-storeyed passage flanked by 32 arcaded apartments on both sides. Each of these originally served as shops selling luxury goods suchvas silks, brocades, velvets, gold, jewellery, and gems to the imperial household. Today, they sell souvenirs to tourists.Read more