Red Fort, Delhi

Red fort at Old Delhi is perhaps the most famous fort in New Delhi. Not particularly for anything but for the fact that the PM unfurls the tri-colour from its ramparts on Independence Day. I cross the red fort once every fortnight or so driving down Raj Ghat from where you can get a glimpse of the Diwan-i-Khas, Shish Mahal, and Rang Mahal. There is a lot of security around the fort after a attact on it few years ago. It is another series of fascinating buildings made by Shah Jahan. The Red Fort was part of his city `Shahjahanabad'.


Khas Mahal at Red Fort


Rang Mahal or the pleasure palace

Entry through the Lahore Gate


The Red Fort ramparts where the PM unfurls the Flag on August 15


Interiors at Rang Mahal, Red Fort


Inner Palaces , Red Fort


Rang Mahal, Interiors


Diwan-i-khas, Khas Mahal, Rang Mahal at Red Fort


Diwan-i-Khas at Red Fort, Delhi


Meena Bazaar at Red Fort, Delhi


Naubat Khana windows, Red Fort


Interiors at Khas Mahal, Red Fort


Elaborate Marble Screen at Red Fort, Delhi


View from Khas Mahal Window


Red Fort, Delhi


The moat around Red Fort, Delhi


The moat around Red Fort, Delhi


Red Fort ramparts and Indian truck


A man yawns at the Diwan-i-am

Lesser known Monuments and Relics in the Walled City

When we think of Old Delhi monuments. We think of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. However there are so many monuments in this densely packed area originalled called Shahjanabad. It was later called the `Walled City' because Shah Jahan had built a wall and 14 gates around it. Some of the monuments in the Walled City have survived the rages of time, encoachment and general neglect. Some of them resonate with their past prestige but most of them are sad ruins fallen to neglect and apathy.

Anglo Arabic School, Ajmeri Gate - also called Ghaziuddin Madrasa was established by Ghaziuddin a genera of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1702. IT was declared a heritage monument by the ASI in 2002. Anglo Arabic School had many names-Anglo Arabic College, Delhi College and Zakir Hussain College. Zakir Hussain college was shifted from here but a wing in the building still houses a boy's hostel for Zakir Hussain. Until 1827 this building functioned as a madrasa.

Entrance of Anglo Arabic School


One of the three arches at the entrance.


The building from Ajmeri Gate


Boys hostel of Zakir Hussain College-inside Anglo Arabic School

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Nawab Ghaziuddin Khan Masjid is a three domed structrue built with red kota stone. There was once a well and a tank connected to the mosque for wuzu (ablutions). There is also a mazaar (shrine) of a saint in the northern side of the mosque. The school suffered during the Sepoy Mutiny when the science laboratories and the library were burnt and along with that umpteen priceless manuscripts turned to ashes.

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Masjid Mubarak Begum- is a mosque made by an englishman for his mistress -Mubarak Begum. It is also crudely called `randi ki masjid'. I was made in 1800. It stands at Lal Kuan, at Hauz Kazi chowk among a tangle of electric cables and hoardings. It is now under the Waqf board. This mosque gotestablished on the upper floor at a latter date.

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Mirja Ghalib's Haveli- I have visited this haveli several times over the past one decade. Until a few years ago it was a place for storage of coals. After a lot of pressure from the literay world and the media it has been somewhat restored. Ghalib spent most of his life in this haveli writing some of his famous poems here. The havali is located in Gali Qasam Jaan in Ballimaran.

Ballimaran had many such historic havelis but they were neglected and finally encroached. It is said that Ballimaran had a canal running through its main street during the time of Shah Jehan. It was so deep that ballis (wooden poles) were used to measure its depth. That’s why the area was named Ballimaran. Another story is that a lot of billis (cats) where killed here.

Urdu couplets of Ghalib on the walls

Men having lunch at the Haveli

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Ajmeri Gate-is one of the 14 entrances to the walled city of Shahajahanabad. The city Shah Jahan built. It is so called because it faces Ajmer. During the 1857 mutiny a fierce battle was fought at this site. It is simple in design and made of locally available stone.



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