NEW DELHI: Have you wondered how Mughal emperors ruled from Red Fort, what their traditional attire was and what they ate? The answers to these can be found at the Red Fort Centre, which recently opened to the public.
The Red Fort Centre, which is housed in a barrack built by the British in 1862, has been conserved by monument mitra, the Dalmia Bharat Group.
The brick British army barrack has been restored and its first floor now houses the Interpretation Centre that takes visitors through the history, architecture and culture of Delhi, including the historic capitals of various empires such as Tughlaqabad, Firozabad and Jahanpanah.
The centre has interesting features like move maps to know what was happening in India and abroad around Shah Jahan’s lifetime (1592-1666).
There is a replica of Chhatta Bazaar offering a glimpse of the grandeur of the Mughal empire. Originally known as Bazaar-e-Musaqqaf or ‘Roofed Bazaar’, Chhatta Bazaar was inspired by the great covered markets of Peshawar. A man who acts as if he was still an employee in the Mughal era points out wares like jars for warm and cold water, body scrubbers and paan daans.
There is a section dedicated to the lifestyle of the Mughals. The royal men and women of the fort would wear clothes made of the finest, softest material in the land and their lifestyle was so luxurious that they would wear an outfit once and then discard it forever, donating it to an underling. The Mughal emperors ate lavishly, among the delicacies served to them being badam ki nuql as starters, moti pulao, sunheri pulao, korma, qaliya and yogurt accompaniments.
The ground floor of the centre showcases a unique, 360-degree immersive viewing experience with projections on the walls, ceiling and floor, reimagining the first day of the Red Fort’s inauguration. The centre is open for the public from 10am to 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday with a ticket costing Rs 100.
Puneet Dalmia, managing director, Dalmia Bharat Limited, said, “We welcome our fellow citizens and guests from across the world to visit and experience Delhi’s old-world charm through the best-in-class Red Fort Centre. It aims to provide a first-hand understanding of the transformation and history of Delhi and how the majestic monument’s grand opulence has left a mark.”
Dalmia added, “We hope that our nation-building effort will lead to greater awareness about our country’s rich heritage and we also look forward to giving back to the community, including the employment generated by this endeavour.” Anand Bhardwaj, CEO, heritage and events, Dalmia Bharat Group, added, “We are planning to add a sound and light show and project mapping show in November.”