Shahjahanabad: The Seventh City of Delhi Built by Emperor Shah Jahan
In 1638, Emperor Shah Jahan shifted his imperial capital from Agra to Delhi and laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad, the seventh historic city of Delhi. This new capital was enclosed by a massive rubble-stone wall strengthened with bastions, gateways, and wickets at intervals. Of its fourteen gates, the most prominent were the Mori, Lahori, Ajmeri, Turkman, Kashmiri and Delhi Gates—many of which no longer survive today.
The Creation of the Red Fort (Lal Qila)
At the northern end of the new city, on the banks of the Yamuna and south of Salimgarh Fort, Shah Jahan began construction of his grand citadel—the Red Fort—in 1639. Completed after nine years, it represents the refined culmination of Mughal architecture. Unlike the Agra Fort, which evolved in layers, the Red Fort was conceived and executed under unified planning and vision.
The fort is shaped like an irregular octagon and features two major gateways: the Lahori Gate on the west and the Delhi Gate on the south. While the imposing defensive walls and gateways are constructed in red sandstone, the palatial interiors are richly adorned with white marble.
Chhatta Chowk and Naubat Khana
Entering from the western gateway, a visitor passes through the vaulted market arcade known as Chhatta Chowk. This corridor opens into the Naubat or Naqqar Khana—the Drum House—where ceremonial music was performed during imperial assemblies. Today, its upper floor houses the Indian War Memorial Museum.
Diwan-i-‘Am: Hall of Public Audience
The Diwan-i-‘Am is a three-aisled rectangular hall with a façade of nine elegant arches. At the rear stands a marble alcove where the emperor once sat beneath a canopy, while a dais below supported the seat of the prime minister.
The wall behind the throne displays exquisite pietra dura panels attributed to the Florentine artist Austin de Bordeaux, including a famous depiction of Orpheus with his lute.
The Water Palaces and Rang Mahal
Six marble palaces once lined the eastern riverfront. Behind the Diwan-i-‘Am stands the beautiful Rang Mahal, named for the colourful decoration of its interiors. A central water channel—the Nahr-i-Bihisht or “Stream of Paradise”—flowed through the hall, with an ivory-fitted marble fountain at its heart. Nearby, the Mumtaz Mahal now serves as the Delhi Fort Museum.
Diwan-i-Khass and the Peacock Throne
The Diwan-i-Khass, or Hall of Private Audience, is a masterpiece of Mughal luxury. Supported by engrailed arches and ornamented marble-inlay panels, this hall once housed the legendary Peacock Throne, taken in 1739 by the Persian ruler Nadir Shah.
Tasbih Khana, Khwabgah and the Muthamman Burj
The Tasbih-Khana served as Shah Jahan’s private prayer chamber. Behind it lies the Khwabgah, the emperor’s sleeping chamber. Attached to its eastern side is the octagonal Muthamman Burj, from where the emperor gave his daily appearance to the public.
The projecting balcony added in 1808 by Akbar Shah II later became the spot from which King George V and Queen Mary addressed the Delhi public during their 1911 visit.
The Hammam and the Moti Masjid
The imperial baths or Hammam comprise three marble-lined chambers, once supplied with hot, cold, and even rose-scented water. West of the Hammam stands Aurangzeb’s elegant Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque).
Hayat-Bakhsh Bagh and Zafar Mahal
To the north of the mosque lies the Hayat-Bakhsh Bagh—the “Life-Giving Garden”—a vast Mughal garden later altered significantly. At its centre stands the red-stone pavilion known as Zafar Mahal, built by the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, around 1842.
The Jama Masjid: India’s Largest Mosque
In 1644, Shah Jahan began construction of his grand mosque, the Jama Masjid, completing it in 1650. Built on a high plinth and measuring about 100 metres square, the mosque features an expansive courtyard, ornamental arched cloisters, and a central tank for ablution.
The prayer hall, fronted by eleven arches and flanked by two towering minarets, is crowned by three graceful domes decorated with alternating black and white marble stripes. It remains the largest mosque in India and a defining symbol of Old Delhi.
Legacy of Shahjahanabad
Shahjahanabad stands as a monumental expression of Mughal power, urban planning, and architectural brilliance. Its walled city layout, bustling markets, grand mosques, serene palaces, flowing canals, and the iconic Red Fort continue to shape the cultural memory and living heritage of Delhi.
