Attraction
Qutub Minar
A 72.5-metre sandstone minaret begun in 1199, standing in a UNESCO-listed complex in Mehrauli with the Iron Pillar and the ruins of Delhi's earliest mosque.
Red Fort
Shah Jahan's red sandstone citadel, completed in 1648, with audience halls, palace pavilions, gardens and several museums inside a UNESCO-listed complex in Old Delhi.
At a glance
- Type
- Mughal fort and palace complex
- Area
- Old Delhi, Delhi, India
Good to know
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Museums inside
- Covered bazaar
Why we recommend it
The Red Fort was the palace of the Mughal emperors when Shah Jahan moved his capital from Agra to his new city of Shahjahanabad, the walled town now known as Old Delhi. Work began in 1638 under the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori and the fort was completed in April 1648. Its massive red sandstone walls give it its name, and since 2007 the Red Fort Complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The fort also has a central place in modern India. On 15 August 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru raised the national flag above the Lahori Gate, and every year on Independence Day the Prime Minister hoists the flag and addresses the country from the ramparts. Expect security arrangements and restricted access in the days around 15 August.
Most visitors enter through the Lahori Gate, which leads straight into Chhatta Chowk, a covered arcade that sold silk, jewellery and other goods to the imperial household and is still lined with shops today. Beyond it lies the Diwan-i-Aam, the Hall of Public Audience, where the emperor received petitions, and further in the white marble Diwan-i-Khas, the Hall of Private Audience. The Rang Mahal, the Palace of Colours, housed the women of the court. In the north-east corner the Hayat Bakhsh Bagh garden holds the Sawan and Bhadon pavilions and the later Zafar Mahal. The small white marble Moti Masjid, built for Aurangzeb in 1659, is closed to visitors.
Leave time for the museums. Four former barrack buildings opened as museums in 2019, covering the 1857 uprising, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, and Indian art in the Drishyakala gallery. The Red Fort Archaeological Museum occupies the Mumtaz Mahal, and the Indian War Memorial Museum is in the Naubat Khana.
Allow two to three hours to see the main pavilions and at least one museum. The site is large and largely unshaded, so go early in the day, carry water and wear comfortable shoes, especially between April and June. Expect security checks at the entrance, so travel light.
The fort sits at the eastern end of Chandni Chowk, and the Jama Masjid is a short walk to the south-west, which makes it easy to combine all three in one morning or afternoon in Old Delhi. Cycle rickshaws are a practical way to cover the short distances between them.
Red Fort FAQs
When was the Red Fort built?
Construction began in 1638 for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and the fort was completed in April 1648.
Is the Red Fort a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, the Red Fort Complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007.
Who designed the Red Fort?
The architect was Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who worked for Shah Jahan.
What are the main buildings to see?
The Lahori Gate, Chhatta Chowk, the Diwan-i-Aam, the marble Diwan-i-Khas, the Rang Mahal and the Hayat Bakhsh Bagh garden.
Are there museums inside the fort?
Yes, including four barrack museums opened in 2019, the Red Fort Archaeological Museum in the Mumtaz Mahal and the Indian War Memorial Museum in the Naubat Khana.
Can you go inside the Moti Masjid?
No, the small marble mosque built for Aurangzeb in 1659 is closed to visitors.
How long should I allow?
Two to three hours covers the main pavilions and one or two museums.
What happens at the fort on Independence Day?
The Prime Minister raises the national flag and gives a speech from the ramparts every 15 August, so access is restricted around that date.
What is nearby?
Chandni Chowk runs west from the fort and the Jama Masjid is a short walk to the south-west.