Last Updated:
New Delhi. Red Fort is one of the most expensive heritage sites of the country. Its construction started in 1639 and its construction was completed in 1648. That means it took 9 years to make it. Red Fort remains in the news every year on 15th August because it is from here that the Prime Minister of India gives his speech. But this time in the month of November, this heritage is in the news due to an unpleasant incident. A car blast took place just a short distance from the Red Fort in Chandni, Delhi, in which 9 people lost their lives. Today we will tell you some interesting facts about the construction of the Red Fort.
1. Who built the Red Fort – The Red Fort was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1639. He built it for his new capital Shahjahanabad (today’s Old Delhi) so that the entire Sultanate could be run from here.
2. Why is it called Red Fort – The walls of the fort are made of red stones, hence it was named Red Fort. These walls are very high and strong and extend for about two and a half kilometers.
3. How much time did it take to build – It took about 9 years to build the Red Fort. Its construction was completed in 1648 and its cost was said to be around Rs 1 crore, which was a huge amount at that time. In today’s time this amount would have been Rs 691 billion. Delhi-Mumbai Expressway can be built 7 times with this much money.
4. How is its design- The design of the fort is a combination of Persian, Islamic and Hindu styles. For this reason it is considered the most magnificent example of Mughal art.
5. What’s inside – There are many beautiful parts inside the fort like Diwan-e-Aam where courts were held for the general public, and Diwan-e-Khas where special guests used to come. Apart from this, there are also buildings like Khas Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Masjid.
6. What is Nahar-e-Bahisht – A special canal was built in the middle of the fort which was called Nahar-e-Bahisht i.e. “Canal of Paradise”. The water of Yamuna river flowed in it and it passed through every palace.
7. Story of Peacock Throne – There was a famous “Peacock Throne” in Diwan-e-Khas, on which Shah Jahan used to sit. Later in 1739, Nadir Shah of Iran looted it.
8. Impact of British era- When the British captured India, they used the Red Fort for their army. New British structures were also built by replacing many old parts.
9. Place associated with independence- Red Fort is also the symbol of India’s independence. It was from here on 15 August 1947 that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolor for the first time and even today the flag is hoisted here every year.
10. UNESCO World Heritage Site- In 2007, Red Fort was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Now it is taken care of by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) so that future generations can also see its beauty.
