Review By: Sangeeta Sanjay Chaubal Review Date: 10 Aug 2010
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The Red Fort or Lal Quila as it is commonly referred is one of the most famous and most visited tourist's destinations in India. Located near the Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi closer to the Delhi Gate, this monument is one of the stupendous masterpieces, deeply linked to the Indian History.
It was on the top of one of the bastions of this monument, that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, declared that India had achieved freedom from the British rule.
Red Fort was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the year 1618. Though the foundation stone was laid in 1618, the actual construction started only in 1638 and it took almost 9 years to build this magnificent monument. The fort was named so, due to the extensive use of Redstone.
It is mentioned in the history, that this fort was earlier called as the ‘Qila-i-Mubarak' that means ‘the blessed fort', as the royal family lived in here. The construction of this fort showcases the artistic creativity dominant during the Mughal Era. It is said that around one crore rupees were spent on the construction of this fort.
The fort is roughly octagonal in shape, with a height of around 34 meters towards the town side. There are two famous getaways, the Lahori Gate and the Delhi Gate.
Apart from the famous getaways, few other buildings and structures that the public has access to include the Diwan-i-Am, Hamam, Moti Masjid and the Mumtaz Mahal.
It is advisable to visit this place in the evenings, as the evenings are pleasant and the additional fun element added to this fort during the evenings is ‘The Light and Sound Show' This show is held every evening and showcases a rich narration of the Mughal history and reign during those period.
The entry fee for Indians is too less, around Rs.10/- TO Rs.15/-. But foreign tourists are charged around Rs.250/- per head. The ticket counter is right at the main entry of the Amar Singh gate, from where you enter inside the fort. Now these charges also include the access to the museums present inside the fort. One has to pay additional charges for the cameras and camcorders. It takes around 2 hours approximately to stroll around the entire place that we have access to. Well, there are additional parking charges, which vary from Rs.10/- to Rs.30/- depending upon the season and other factors. Not to forget that the Red Fort is open usually on all days, except Mondays.
Apart from the monuments and the structures inside the fort, there is nothing much to see in there. The fountains and the water areas, contain no water actually and are totally dried out. The construction is overall in a good shape, and most of the artifacts look undisturbed. There are few jewelry and craft stores available inside the gate. The two museums, one the archaeological museum and the other war museum are worth visiting.
There are many accommodation facilities available in Old Delhi closer to the Red Fort, ranging to fit everyone's budget.
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Good: The museums, the monuments inside the Red Fort
Bad: Poor Maintenance
Recommend: Yes
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