New Delhi Red Fort

 Guide series on New Delhi, we will showyou the Red Fort, 

we will share how to get there and what to do once you arrive. 

The Red Fort known as Lal Quila in Hindi is a World Heritage Site and is located inCentral Delhi.   

It's near the old part of the city known as Old Delhi in the ChandniChowk area.

   A good way to get to the Red Fort is to take the violet line also known asthe Heritage line and exit at Lal Qila Station and then walk to the Red Fort.

  You can also take the Delhi Metro railway Yellow line to Chandni Chowk metro station. 

 The Chandni Chowk metro station is about one kilometer away from the Red Fort.  You can walk or take a rickshaw to the Red Fort.  

You may also choose a rickshaw or taxi to go directly to the fort depending on where your hotel is locatedsince the Red Fort is located centrally. Come early to avoid the crowds and theheat.   

The Red Fort is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and closed on Mondays. 

 If you're not an Indian citizen or visitor from a SAARC or BIMSTEC country, youwill pay the foreigner entry fee.

 Entry fee for the sound and light showin the evening is additional.   Audio guides are available in Hindi, 

 English,and Korean Guides will approach you to hire thembut it's not really necessary for this attraction. 

  After your purchase yourtickets,  you will enter the Lahore gate which is the main entrance of the RedFort.  

The Prime Minister of India delivers a speech during IndianIndependence Day on August 15th every year here. 

  In 1638 Shah Jahantransferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and used the Red Fort for hisresidence.

 Once you go through the main gate,  you'llenter a complex of buildings,

   Some notable buildings include the Hall ofpublic audience,  the hall of private audience, the private apartments,  the women'squarters, 

 the pearl mosque,  and of course the life bestowing garden.   Thearchitecture of the Red Fort is a grand example of the Mughal period.   

One of the first buildings you will see is the Diwan-i-Aam, the Hall of public audiences. 

 This Hall was once decorated with stucco work and had gold columns. 

   Here the Emperor would sit on his throne with a canopy and listen to thecomplaints,  issues,  requests,  or suggestions of his people.  The nextstructure you'll see is the Diwan-i-Khas, the hall of private audience. 

 This hallwas used for confidential meetings with ministers or guests of the state.  Thisrectangular chamber Hall has intricately carved decor In the back of the throne,  you'll find theprivate apartment.   These apartments are set up on the elevated level overlookingthe Yamuna river on the east side of fort. 

  As you walk west to the complexyou'll find the Moti Masjid,  the pearl mosque. 

  This was build in 1659and served as the exclusive mosque of the Mughal emperor.   This mosque is made of pure white marble and has three domes Screens of the mosque has three archeswhich lead to the courtyard.  You'll also find the two women's quarters found onthe extreme south from the pavilion.

 One of the are the women's quarters the Mumtaz Mahal is now used as a museum.   In the evening,  many people come to the Red Fort for the light show.  

Here the gardens and the buildings are lit up with music.   Onceyou're ready to leave the Red Fort,

  you will exit out the Delhi gate that willtake you to the parking lot of the Red Fort.

   From there you'll see manyrickshaws waiting or you can walk to Old Delhi.  Combine your visit to the Red Fort with a visit to the Chandni Chowk area andalso Jama Masjid. 

  This attraction will take an hour more depending on yourinterest. Happy Travels!