|
Red Fort or Lal Quilla
It is the landmark of Delhi and this fort is the most magnificent of all Indian royal palace, is Shah Jahan’s elegant citadel in red stone. Shah Jehan as citadel of Shahjahanabad built it near Chandni chowk at the eastern extremity of walled city, along the ricer front , the 7th delhi founded by himself near.the Red fort was completed in 9 years and 3 months. The architect of this fort was Mukarmmat Khan. The fort is irregular octagonal in plan, with it’s 2 long sides on the east and west and 6 smaller ones on the north and south. The long ditch around it was filled with water during the war time. The Red fort’s main entrance is Lahori gate facing towards Chandni chowk, the city’s most crowded and diverse market and exited from ring road near Vijay ghat. It is from the rampart of Lahori gate that the prime ministers of independent India made their speeches on independence day(15 August) every year. The gate leads through Meena bazaar a place where in gone away days shopkeepers were women, to roofed passage called Chatta chowk now lined by antique stores. From here one passage leads to a museum which is dedicated to the Indian freedom struggle called Swantantra sangram sanghrayala museum. Another leads to the Naubat khana, which was used to be a musician’s gallery .here the band was played at 5 times in a day to proclaim that the emperor was in the palace. Diwan-I amm, the pillared hall of audience. This red stone building stands on a plinth of stone. Rang mahal,decorated with coloured jewels and stones, which are formely adorned. In the center of Rang mahal is a tank in which there is a beautiful Lotus flower like cup of marble. The six main royal apartments statrting from Mumtaz mahal, which was the part of seraglio at the southern end today it houses the Delhi museum of archaeology was built . Along the river-front with the Nahar-I Bihisht, or stream of paradise flowing through them. Among with these Sheesh mahal, studded with tiny mirrors, each of which reflected the light of a single candle burned in the room.
Standing on the magnificent marble pavilion , Diwan-I –khas,is the hall of private guests of royal family. Here the emperor meets his private visitors. It’s ceiling is supported by 32 richly carved pillars inlaid with precious gems. On the northern side of Diwan-I-khas, is the Khas mahal, the set of three marble apartments communicating with each other. Tasbi khanna , or the house of worship , Khawab Gah, or the bed chamber or the conversation house. From here emperors and their wives witnessed elephants fight and the tricks of jugglers. In the middle is these apartments is the scale of justice with the moon and stars inlaid gold over the beautifully carved marble screen. there is also a semi-octagonal tower , the Muthamman burj, where the emperor made a brief, daily appearance. A balcony was later added and it was here that King Goerge V and Queen Mary appeared before the citizens of Delhi.
North of diwan- I-Khas are the Hammamas, the royal baths. Here even the floor is covered with Embroidery in the stone. West of the royal apartments is a pearl mosque, built by mughal emperor Aurangeb in 1662.north of the mosque lies the Hayat Baksh, gardens the mangoes trees of which were praised by the poets by medieval Delhi. Later the British added some buildings with the citadel when it was garrisoned and these continue to be used by Army of India.
Lodhi Garden
A favourite haunt of both early morning joggers and those who in the search of solitude is Lodhi garden laid out in 1930 by Lady Willington. The landscaped gardens with several louts ponds and fountains, were built around the majestic tombs of Lodhi and sultans who ruled north India in 15th and 16th centuries.
Chandni Chowk
Chandni chowk market begins just from the opposite of Red Fort. More than three centuries old this bazaar is famous for every type of shopping. Despite the pressures of traffic and population, it’s historic landmarks survive to tell the story of the last three centuries. Many of the shops here are more than 100 years old. Leading of Chandni Chowk are Dariba, the jewellery and silver wear market, Chabri Bazar paper market, antique and brass wear, Nai sarak, the books and cloth market, Khari Baoli, the spice market, Kinari Bazar, for trimmings and untensils. These bazaars offers you a glimpse of life in Old Delhi.
|
