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Top 10 Remarkable Facts about the Red Fort, Delhi

Located in Old Delhi in India, the Red Fort is a historic site that served as the residence of Mughal Emperors. Known as Lal Qila in Hindu, the fort was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan on 12 May 1638. Emperor Shah wanted the fort constructed so he could move his capital from Agra to Delhi.

The fort’s design is credited to Ustad Ahmad Lahori. Lahori is the architect who constructed the Taj Mahal. Originally red and white, the fort symbolizes the height of Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan. The fort also combines Indian traditions with Persian palace architecture.

Comprising an area of 254.67 acres (103.06 hectares), the Red Fort is surrounded by a defensive wall that is 2.41 kilometers (1.50 miles) long. The fort is octagonal with the east-west axis being shorter than the north-south axis.

In 1739, the fort’s artwork and jewels were plundered when Nadir Shah invaded the Mughal Empire. In 1857, during the Indian Rebellion, the British demolished most of the fort’s marble structures. The fort was used as a garrison as its defensive walls were mostly undamaged.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, raised the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate on 15 August 1947. Every independence day on 15th August, the Prime Minister hoists the Indian flag at the fort’s main gate. The minister then delivers a speech that is nationally broadcast. The speech is delivered from the fort’s ramparts.

Below are ten interesting facts about the Red Fort.

1. The Red Fort is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

View looking west across the Red Fort from the Diwan-i-Am towards the Naqqar Khana (also known as the Hathiyan Pol or Elephant Gate). Photo by Tytler, Robert and Harriet/

The Red Fort complex which includes the Salimgarh Fort was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. The fort is currently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

2. The British Destroyed Parts of the Red Fort with Some Items now on display in London

The British acquired the Red Fort and destroyed many parts of it. The 1747 invasion of Nadir Shah and the 1857 Indian rebellion against the British led to the looting of the fort’s jewels and artwork.

The looted items were sold to the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Library, and private collectors. For instance, the crown of Bahadur Shah II and Shah Jahan’s jade wine cup is in London. The British Government has so far rejected requests for restitution.

3. Originally, the Red Fort was not Red

View of the Palace Buildings of the Shah Boorj, Summer Boorj, and Ussud Boorj from the Eastern or river face. Photo by Ghulam Ali Khan/

The Red Fort was believed to have originally been white. Lime plasters on the walls of the fort found by ASI indicate that the fort may have initially been white. The fort may have been repainted by the British. Additionally, the Red Fort name may have arisen from the red sandstone that built the external fort wall.

4. The Red Fort Had Several Other Names

Baoli (step-well) at Red Fort, Delhi. Photo by Hemant Arya/

The Red Fort’s real name is Fort Qila-i-Mubarak. The royal family also refer to the fort as the ‘Blessed Fort.’ The Red Fort was designed by Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Ustad Hamid. These are the same architects who designed the Taj Mahal.

5. The Fort was Built When India’s Capital City Moved to Delhi

Fifth Mughal Sultan, Shah Jahan. Photo by Bichitr/

Shah Jahan commissioned the construction of the Red Fort in 1638 as he moved his empire from Agra to Delhi. Previously, Delhi was known as Shahjahanabad.

6. The Red Fort was plundered by the Persians in the 1730s

Jahandar Shah became the Mughal Emperor in 1712. In the course of his one-year reign, Shah was murdered and Farrukhsiyar replaced him. In 1739, the Persian emperor Nadir Shah defeated a 200,000-man Mughal army and plundered the Red Fort including its Peacock Throne.

Three months later, Nadir Shah went back to Persia leaving behind Muhammad Shah and a weakened Mughal empire. This made the Mughals Delhi rulers by name only. The Marathas became protectors of the throne in Delhi after a 1752 treaty.

7. The Red Fort Received Thousands of Visitors Each Year

PM Jawaharlal Nehru addresses the nation from Red Fort on Independence Day, 15 August 1947. Photo by

The largest monument in Delhi, the Red Fort is one of the most visited tourist attractions in India. The Red Fort is a structure of historic significance. India’s Prime Minister raises the country’s flag every year at the fort to mark the Country’s Independence Day.

Celebrated on 15^th August, the Prime Minister gives a speech annually from the fort’s ramparts. The new Mahatma Gandhi series of Indian rupees has an image of the fort on the back of the ₹500 note.

8. Terrorists attacked the Red Fort in the Year 2000

On 22 December 2000, six terrorists attacked the Red Fort site. The terrorists who were members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba killed a civilian and two soldiers. The media referred to the attack as an attempt to derail the India-Pakistan peace talks.

9. The Red Fort was adopted for Public Maintenance by a Private Group 

ASI monument. Photo by Biswarup Ganguly/

The Dalmia Bharat Group adopted the Red Fort in April 2018. The Group signed a five-year contract worth ₹25 crores for them to carry out maintenance, development, and operations on the fort under the government’s ‘Adopt A Heritage’ scheme.

The memorandum of understanding was signed with the ministries of Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.) and the ministries of Tourism and Culture. The Memorandum led to an outcry from historians, the public, and political parties in the opposition.

This led to the creation of the Twitter hashtag #IndiaOnSale. The Indian History Congress called for the deal to be suspended in May 2018. The deal was to be placed on hold till the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology or any other recognized body of experts gave an ‘impartial review’ of the deal.

10. The Red Fort Served as an Inspiration for Other Buildings across India

Red Fort, India. Photo by Lessermortal/

The Red Fort blends local Indian traditions with Islamic palace structure resulting in the convergence of Hindu, Persian, and Timurid architecture. The Red fort served as an inspiration for gardens and other buildings constructed across the Indian subcontinent. The World Heritage Convention referred to the fort as demonstrating ‘the zenith of Mughal creativity.’