Highlights:
♦ After Shah Jahan was in power from Agra for 11 years, he decided to move to Delhi and laid the foundation for the Red Fort in 1618. For the inauguration in 1647, the main hall of the palace was covered with ornate tapestries, covered with Chinese silk and Turkish velvet.
♦ The perimeter of the fort is almost half a mile. It is an irregular octagonal shape with two entrances, namely Lahore Gate and Delhi Gate. It is named for its huge red sandstone wall and is adjacent to an ancient fort, Salimgarh, which was built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546 and formed the Red Fort complex.
♦ The private apartment consists of a row of pavilions connected by a continuous waterway, known as Nahr-i-Behisht (Stream of Paradise).
♦ The planning of the palace is based on the prototype of Islam, but each pavilion displays typical architectural elements of Mughal architecture, reflecting the fusion of Persian, Timur and Hindu traditions.
♦ Diwan-e-Aam is the public audience hall of the Red Fort. The Mughal emperor will hold court here and meet with dignitaries and foreign envoys. The recess behind the platform is a good example of Pietra-Dura’s work in Italy.
♦ Pietra-Dura is a term for setting technology that uses highly polished colored gemstones that have been cut and set to create images. It is considered a decorative art.
♦ The resisting area of the Diwan-e-Khas fortress is the hall of private spectators. Diwan-e-Khas is the tallest decorated building among all buildings in Shah Jahan. It is a white marble pavilion with intricately carved pillars.
♦ Diwan-e-Khas is decorated with rich flowers, inlaid with stone mosaics, and once housed the famous Peacock Throne, which was plundered by Nadir Shah in 1739.
