Monday, August 11, 2008

Attractions within the Red Fort


The Red Fort served as the center of the Mughal Empire for more than 200 years. Lal Qila (Red Fort) is actually a series of individual pavilions, each with a specific purpose. The Khas Mahal served as the emperor's private quarters and was the most exquisitely decorated of all the pavilions.


The Diwan-i-khas in Red Fort was designed to reflect heaven and served as the private audience hall. All public audiences were held in the Diwan-i-am, and secret meetings took place in the Royal Tower, or Shah Burj.


On the north of the Diwan-i-Khas lies the bathroom set or Hammam, consisting of three apartments separated by corridors. The floors and dados of these apartments are built with marble, inlaid with floral patterns of multicoloured stones. The two rooms on either side of the present entrance were used.


To the west of the Hammam lies the small mosque, called the Moti-Masjid (Pearl Mosque), built by Aurangzeb for his personal use. The prayer-hall of the mosque is inlaid with outlines of 'Musallas' (small carpets for prayers) in black marble, and it stands at a higher level than the courtyard

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