Page 92 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

90  DELHI & THE NOR TH

hoisted for the first time, when
India became an independent
nation on 15 August 1947.
Entry is through Lahore Gate.
One of the fort’s six gateways,
this leads on to the covered
bazaar of Chatta Chowk, where
paintings and trinkets are sold.
Beyond this lies the Naqqar
Khana, a pavilion where
ceremonial music was played
three times a day.
A path from here leads to
The sandstone and marble Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque the Diwan-i-Aam, a 60-pillared,
red sandstone hall, where the
i Jama Masjid the top are narrow and can emperor gave daily audience
get crowded, but the views to the public. The emperor sat
Off Netaji Subhash Marg. q Chawri
Bazaar. Closed for non-Muslims are definitely worth the effort. beneath the lavishly carved
during prayer time. Extra charges for stone canopy, while the low
photography. bench in front of it was for his
o Red Fort chief minister. Beyond this hall
Built on the orders of the Chandni Chowk. Tel (011) 2327 7705. is the Rang Mahal.
Emperor Shah Jahan, this grand q Chandni Chowk. Open 7am– Inside its gilded chambers,
mosque, with three imposing 6:30pm Tue–Sun. Closed Mon & once exclusively for women,
black- and- white marble domes, public hols. & Son et Lumière: Feb– is an inlaid marble fountain
and twin minarets framing its Apr, Sep & Oct: 8:30–9:30pm daily; shaped like an open lotus.
great central arch, took six years Nov–Jan: 7:30–8:30pm daily; May– Nearby, is the Khas Mahal,
and 5,000 workers to construct, Aug: 9–10pm daily. & Museum: the emperor’s royal apartments
at a cost of nearly a million rupees. Open Tue–Sun. = with special rooms for private
It was completed in 1656. A worship and for sleeping. The
magnificent flight of sandstone Red sandstone battlements Robe Room (“Tosh Khana”) has
steps leads to the great arched give this imperial citadel its a superb marble jali screen
entrances. In Aurangzeb’s time, name, Lal (“Red”) Qila carved with the s
the area attracted horse sellers (“Fort”). Commis- cales of justice, a
and jugglers; today, shoe minders sioned by Shah Jahan motif seen in many
and beggars mill around. in 1639, it took nine miniature paintings.
The huge, 28-m (92-ft) square years to build and was North of the Khas
courtyard can accommodate the seat of Mughal Mahal is the Diwan-
up to 20,000 people at Friday power until 1857, i-Khas, constructed
prayer sessions and at Id, when when the last Mughal completely of
it looks like a sea of worshippers. emperor, Bahadur white marble. The
The south minaret is an Shah Zafar, was legendary Peacock
attraction for visitors, as it offers dethroned and exiled. Throne, embedded
unrivalled views across all of old It was here that the Throne canopy at the with priceless jewels
Delhi. The 120 steps leading to national flag was Diwan-i-Aam was kept here until it
Red Fort
11 10 9 8 6 7
1 Delhi Gate
15 2 Lahore Gate
3 Chatta Chowk
4 Naqqar Khana
12 14 13 5
5 Diwan-i-Aam
4
6 Rang Mahal
1 7 Mumtaz Mahal
8 Khas Mahal
3 9 Diwan-i-Khas
10 Hamams
11 Shah Burj
12 Sawan
2
0 metres 200 13 Bhadon
14 Zafar Mahal
0 yards 200 15 Moti Masjid
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p694 and pp706–707

090-091_EW_India.indd 90 26/05/17 11:44 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm