Red Fort (Lal Qila)

Built by Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648 when he shifted the Mughal capital from Agra to the new city of Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is a 254-acre walled citadel of red Bharatpur sandstone. It served as the Mughal seat of power until 1857, when the British exiled the last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon following the Sepoy Rebellion. The Lahori Gate is the principal entrance and the spot from which the Indian Prime Minister addresses the nation every August 15th. Inside, the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) and Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) face each other across the formal gardens; the Khas Mahal and Rang Mahal housed the imperial harem; the Hammam and Moti Masjid (added by Aurangzeb) sit alongside the canal that once carried Yamuna water through the complex. The Peacock Throne, encrusted with the Koh-i-Noor and Akbar Shah diamonds, was looted by Nadir Shah in 1739 and never replaced. UNESCO inscribed the Red Fort in 2007 as part of the 'Red Fort Complex' (which includes the older Salimgarh Fort to the north). The fort is closed on Mondays. Avoid August 15 unless attending the official ceremony — security is heavy and most of the grounds are restricted.