The castle of the mogul emperors in Delhi
(Tue-Sun sunrise to sunset, Rs 250 foreigners, Rs 10 Indians, allow 1 hr. The entrance is through the Lahore Gate (nearest the car park) with the admission kiosk opposite; keep your ticket as you will need to show it at the Drum House. The toilets are in Chatta Chowk and near Asad Burj but are best avoided. You must remove shoes and cover all exposed flesh from your shoulders to your legs.)
Between the new city and the River Yamuna, Shah Jahan built a fort. Most of it was built out of red lal (sandstone), hence the name Lal Qila (Red Fort), the same as that at Agra on which the Delhi Fort is modelled. Begun in 1639 and completed in 1648, it is said to have cost Rs 10 million, much of which was spent on the opulent marble palaces within. In recent years much effort has been put into improving the fort and gardens, but visitors may be saddened by the neglected state of some of the buildings, and the gun-wielding soldiers lolling around do nothing to improve the ambience. However, despite the modern development of roads and shops and the never-ending traffic, it’s an impressive site.
