Red Fort, Delhi

Red fort of Delhi is included in the list of UNESCO world cultural heritage in 2007. The red fort is the largest building of Delhi and one of the major tourist attractions of the city. The monumental building was completed after only 9 years construction time in the year 1648 and resembles the fort in Agra . It was constructed after the shifting of the Mughal capital from Agra to Delhi . It should have cost approximately 10 million rupees whereby the half of the money was used for the splendid palaces. The imposing fort, measuring around 900 X 550 meter, is surrounded by a 2.4 km long wall and has, like most Islamic buildings in India , an octagonal form. Up to the year 1857, it served as the residence for the Mughal Emperors. One enters the fort through the powerful Lahore Gate and strikes himself first of all through an accumulation of souvenir shops, which are the successors of the Meena Bazaar, which was operated by the socially higher state women of the Mughal court.

Inside the huge fort one finds the various constructions like battlefields for elephants, numerous palaces, a bath, private mosque of the Mughals. In the Diwan-i-Khas, the audience hall of the Great Mughals, was kept the famous peacock throne. Over the entrance, it is written: "If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, here, here". One knows that these words of the builder, Shah Jahan were not exaggerated, - also if today empty walls and cleared halls amaze visitors from all over the world.

imple Marble domes replaced meanwhile the copper sheet and also the precious stones and jewels that decorated once the walls, hardly somewhat remaining. The palaces contain however still very beautiful marble working. Reasons for the decay are the lootings in 1739 by the Persian ruler Nadir Shah and in 1857 by the British soldiers. Every evening in fort takes place a large Sound and Light show on the ground. To the honour of the Indian independence, Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag personally each year on the 15 August.