The Red Fort or Lal Qila is a historic fort in the Old Delhi neighbourhood of Delhi, India, that historically served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1639, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally red and white, its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, who also constructed the Taj Mahal. The fort represents the peak in the Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan and combines Persian palace architecture with Indian traditions.
A view of the Red Fort's Lahori Gate
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, c. 1630
The walls of Red Fort (in the background) as seen from the top of Jama Masjid's tower
The Rang Mahal inside Red Fort in the mid-nineteenth century.
A fortification is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin fortis ("strong") and facere.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Puerto Rico. The fortress and walled city of Old San Juan are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, Colombia. Cartagena's colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Maiden Castle in 1935. The Iron Age hillfort was first built in 600 BC.
Early 20th century aerial photograph of the fortifications of Valletta, Malta, which were built in the 16th and 17th centuries.