Red Fort Complex

  • Red Fort Complex

The Red Fort Complex was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex. The private apartments consist of a row of pavilions connected by a continuous water channel, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht (Stream of Paradise). The Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity which, under the Shah Jahan, was brought to a new level of refinement. The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions The Red Fort’s innovative planning and architectural style, including the garden design, strongly influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further afield.

Outstanding Universal Value

The planning and design of the Red Fort represents a culmination of architectural development initiated in 1526 AD by the first Mughal Emperor and brought to a splendid refinement by Shah Jahan with a fusion of traditions: Islamic, Persian, Timurid and Hindu. The innovative planning arrangements and architectural style of building components as well as garden design developed in the Red Fort strongly influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further afield. The Red Fort has been the setting for events which have had a critical impact on its geo-cultural region.

Criterion (ii): The final flourishing of Mughal architecture built upon local traditions but enlivened them with imported ideas, techniques, craftsmanship and designs to provide a fusion of Islamic, Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions. The Red Fort demonstrates the outstanding results this achieved in planning and architecture.

Criterion (iii): The innovative planning arrangements and architectural style of building components and garden design developed in the Red Fort strongly influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further afield. The Red Fort Complex also reflects the phase of British military occupation, introducing new buildings and functions over the earlier Mughal structures.

Criterion (vi): The Red Fort has been a symbol of power since the reign of Shah Jahan, has witnessed the change in Indian history to British rule, and was the place where Indian independence was first celebrated, and is still celebrated today. The Red Fort Complex has thus been the setting of events critical to the shaping of regional identity, and which have had a wide impact on the geo-cultural region.

The Red Fort Complex is a layered expression of both Mughal architecture and planning, and the later British military use of the forts. The most dramatic impacts on the integrity of the Red Fort Complex come from the change of the river into a major road, which alters the relationship of the property to its intended setting; and from the division of the Salimgarh Fort by a railway. Nevertheless the Salimgarh Fort is inextricably linked to the Red Fort in use and later history. The integrity of the Salimgarh Fort can only be seen in terms of its value as part of the overall Red Fort Complex. The authenticity of the Mughal and British buildings in the Red Fort Complex is established, although more work is needed to establish the veracity of the current garden layout. In the specific case of the Salimgarh Fort, the authenticity of the Mughal period is related to knowledge of its use and associations, and of the built structures dating from the British period.

The nominated property has been declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1959. A buffer zone has been established. Although the state of conservation of the property has improved over the past ten years, much more work is needed to put the overall state of the property into a stable condition and to ensure visitors do not contribute to its decay. The Red Fort Complex is managed directly by the Archaeological Survey of India, which is also responsible for the protection of all national level heritage sites in India and Indian cultural properties included in the World Heritage List.

The Red Fort Complex was commissioned by the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan on 16th April, 1639. It served as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad (present day Old Delhi), the new imperial capital of the Mughals. Deriving its name from the massive red sandstone walls which encloses the complex, the Red Fort’s construction was completed after nine years in 1648. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2007 by UNESCO.

Shah Jahan shifted the capital of the Mughal Empire from Agra to Delhi in 1638. As a seat of imperial power, the construction of Red Fort symbolised grandeur and majesty of the Mughal rule.The Red Fort Complex is a massive structure covering an area of 254.67 acres which is enclosed by rampart walls covering as much as 2.41 kilometres. It’s octagonal in plan. Its construction is said to have cost around 1 crore rupees at that time!

Made with red sandstone and marble, the magnificence of the structure is manifested in its imposing gateways, palaces, the imperial throne inlaid with precious stones and canals running through the palaces. Delhi Gate and Lahori Gate are two colossal, three-storeyed main gateways which provide entry to the Complex.

One then reaches Naubat/ Naqqar Khana (drum house) which stands at the entrance of the palace area. Music was played here at scheduled times and visitors were expected to dismount here. Next, one encounters the glory of the Mughal rule reflected in the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) where the Emperor used to hold meetings with the general public. The Emperor’s throne stood here on an elevation under which stood a marble dais inlaid with precious stones.

The area behind the Diwan-i-Aam was constructed for the personal usage of the royal family. There were originally six palaces. Mumtaz Mahal, Rang Mahal, Khas Mahal are the prominent ones. A canal, Nahr-i-Bihisht passed through the centre of these palaces in which the water taken from the river Yamuna flowed.

Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) is one of the most important structures in the Complex where the Emperor held his private meetings with high ranking nobles and visitors. Over the marble pedestal in its centre stood the famous Peacock Throne which was looted in 1739 by Nadir Shah. Other structures like Zafar Mahal, Moti Masjid, Shah Burj lined with Mughal chahar-bagh gardens add to the glory of the Complex.

Red Fort Complex was chosen as a World Heritage Site because it represents the apogee of Mughal architecture with a remarkable example of the fusion of Islamic, Persian, Timurid and Indian artistic traditions. It reflects the historical transition from Mughal rule to a British military occupation and the addition of new British structures. It symbolises power. It was also the place where Indian independence was first celebrated. Even today, the Indian Flag is hoisted from the ramparts of Red Fort every Independence Day.

Recognizing the ongoing need to position itself for the digital future, Indian Culture is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture. A platform that hosts data of cultural relevance from various repositories and institutions all over India.