Monday, August 11, 2008

Red Fort, Lal Qila


Delhi Fort, known as Lal Qil'ah, or Lal Qila, meaning the Red Fort. The Red Fort was the palace for Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's new capital, Shahjahanabad, the seventh Muslim city in the Delhi site. The fort lies along the Yamuna River, which fed the moats that surround most of the wall. The walls of the fort are smoothly dressed, articulated by heavy string-courses along the upper section. They open at two major gates, the Delhi and the Lahore gates. The Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi, attracting millions of visitors every year.
Shah Jahan, famed not only for his leadership capabilities but also for his great architectural accomplishments, was one of the greatest rulers of the Mughal Dynasty in India. In 1638 when the emperor moved the capital of India from Agra to Delhi, a new royal palace was constructed. Known as the Red Fort (Lal Qila), it was begun around 1640 and completed by 1648.

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