Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city of Delhi, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the country and the world every year. The original name of this majestic building was Qila-e-Mubarak and it continues to be one of the most important national buildings in the country today, being the venue of flag hoisting on the occasion of Independence Day every year.
Here are 10 most interesting and unknown facts about Red Fort:
#1. Originally, the Red Fort was white in color, as per the reports of Archeological Survey of India, which concluded that lime plaster had been used on some parts of the historic monument. Reportedly, the building was painted in red by the British after the white plaster had faded off.
#2. Qila-e-Mubarak or the Blessed Fort, as Red Fort was originally called, was designed by Ustad Hamid and Ustad Ahmad, the famous architects of the period of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It was constructed when the Emperor shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi. The amazing building to 10 years to be completed, with its construction starting in 1638 and culminating in 1648.
#3. The building has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, due to its historical and cultural significance.
#4. The octagonal shaped building of Red Fort has been made of red sandstone and is encircled by a huge wall. Delhi Gate and Lahore Gate are the two entrances to the fort, which is spread over a sprawling area of 256 acres.
#5. Red Fort is an amazing example of architectural splendor, with its well planned public halls, marble places, a mosque and beautiful gardens.
#6. The Red Fort housed the famous “Rang Mahal”, literally translated as the Palace of Colors. The beautiful Palace was home to the wives and mistresses of the Emperor, along with their maids. The Emperor usually spent time with his wives and concubines at this splendid location and sometimes went there for dinner.
#7. The code of conduct of the Rang Mahal prohibited men from entering there, except the Emperor himself or one of the princes. Only the maids and eunuchs were allowed to go into the premises and deliver messages from outside.
#8. Another most fascinating aspect of the Red Fort is the fact that it housed the beautiful Kohinoor diamond, which was embedded into the royal throne of Shah Jahan, which was located in the Diwan-i-Khas. The precious stone was later stolen by Nadir Shah and today is a part of Royal Crown Collection of England.
#9. The last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried by the British in the Diwan-i-Khas of the Red Fort on the charges of treason. This happened after the failure of the revolt of 1857 by the Indian revolutionaries.
#10. At the end of the Mughal rule, Red Fort was taken over by the British, who stripped it off its valuables and sold them. They also destroyed the structures within the building.
Knowing all these amazing facts about this great historic building makes it even more alluring to the visitors.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.