Delhi: The Red Fort

Delhi: The Red Fort (Lal Qila)

Gateway at the Red Fort, Delhi

Lal Qila, the Red Fort, is the largest monument in Old Delhi. Built for Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, the Fort was erected between 1639 and 1648. Its red sandstone walls, turrets and bastions were modelled on the royal citadel at Agra.

Mughal Emperor's Throne

The Rough Guide describes the Red Fort as having 'all the expected trappings of Moghul government: halls of public and private audience, domed and arched marble palaces, plush private aprtments, a mosque, and elaborately designed gardens.'

Mughal Buildings

The heart of the fort houses a range of fabulous buildings, including: the marble Khas Mahal, the emperor's personal palace; the Diwan-i-Am, a pillared hall where the earlier emperors appeared for their public audiences; the hammams, or royal baths; and the Rang Mahal used by the emperor's wives and concubines.

British Barracks

After Delhi was taken by the British, the Red Fort was used for military purposes and large barrack buildings were constructed to house soldiers.

Old Delhi
Delhi Tombs

The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi, 1857

by William Dalrymple
On a dark evening in November 1862, a cheap coffin is buried in eerie silence. There are no lamentations or panegyrics, for the British Commissioner in charge has insisted, 'No vesting will remain to distinguish where the last of the Great Mughals rests.' This Mughal is Bahadur Shah Zafar II, one of the most tolerant and likeable of his remarkable dynasty who found himself leader of a violent and doomed uprising. The Siege of Delhi was the Raj's Stalingrad, the end of both Mughal power and a remarkable culture.
More information and prices from:
Amazon.com - US dollars
Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars
Amazon.co.uk - British pounds
Amazon.de - Euros
Amazon.fr - Euros

The Rough Guide to India

The Rough Guide to India is the essential handbook to this extraordinary country. The 24 page full-colour introduction includes stunning photography of the country's many highlights. The guide has comprehensive accounts of every attraction, from fast-paced Delhi and the sacred sites of the Ganges plain to the Moghul splendour of Agra and the shell-sand beaches of the south. There is also practical advice on activities as diverse as boating through the Keralan backwaters, hiking through the high-altitude deserts of Ladakh or treatments at an ayurvedic spa. The listings sections provide hundreds of insider reviews of the best hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars, shops and museums in every city and village. The authors also give an informed insight into India's history, politics, religion, music and cinema, providing a valuable context to the reader's trip.
Amazon.com - US dollars
Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars
Amazon.co.uk - British pounds
Amazon.de - Euros
Amazon.fr - Euros