Red Fort

Context:

Article in The Indian Express exploring the popularity of 400-year-old monument

Red Fort:

• Built by – Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
• Built as – Palace fort of Shahjahanabad (New capital of the Mughal Emperor)
• Features –
  • Massive enclosing walls of red sandstone
  • Private apartments consisting of a row of pavilion
  • Continuous water channel, known as the Nahr-i-Behisht (Stream of Paradise).
• Significance –
  • Recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 2007
  • After 1947, the fort was chosen for the annual celebration of Independence Day

Mughal Architecture:

• Mughal Architecture – Building style that flourished in northern and central India under the patronage of the Mughal emperors from the mid-16th to the late 17th century.
• Architecture Style – Marked a striking revival of Islamic architecture in northern India.
• Features –
  • White marbles and red sandstones were predominantly used.
  • Introduction of Charbagh style in which main buildings are encircled by gardens on all 4 quadrilaterals.
  • Mosques with huge courtyards are very popular.
  • Calligraphic inscriptions in Persian and Arabic, containing Quranic verses.
• Pronounced bulbous domes, slender turrets at the corners, broad gateways, and geometric patterns on pillars and walls are other features.

Important Mughal monuments:

• Humayun’s Tomb –
  • Built under the patronage of – Akbar
• • Also called – ‘Dormitory of the Mughals’
  • Significance –
    • 1^st garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent
    • UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site in 1993.
• Agra Fort –
  • Built with red sandstone
  • Also incorporated Rajput architectural styles along with Mughal architecture
• Fatehpur Sikri –
  • Known for – Its magnificent gateway called Buland Darwaza
• • Built by – Akbar
  • Built with – Red sandstone and marble
• Taj Mahal –
  • Taj Mahal (Agra) – A mausoleum of white marble
• • On the banks of – Yamuna.
• • Built by – Shah Jahan, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal
  • Significance – Considered as one of the 7 Wonders of the World, it was inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1983

Source: The Indian Express

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Previous Year Question

With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to:

[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2014 Prelims]

(a) an assembly of village elders
(b) a religious sect
(c) a style of temple construction
(d) an administrative functionary

Answer: (c)

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