Lal Kila (The Red Fort)

Made it inside the Red Fort today. Based on what few of my friends had said, I wasn’t expecting much. I think in my mind I had pictured an open park-like space surrounded by the ruins of the red walls. This, before I read the one page description my guidebook had on it, while on the metro. The actual thing was much grander than what I had imagined, and it totally exceeded my expectations at all levels (yes, even expectations raised post-guidebook). On retrospect, I should have got the audio tour and this gives me a reason to visit again – I feel a guided tour will definably be worth it.

Having now read half of William Dalrymple’s City of Djinns, I have a new found fascination for Old Delhi, and all the history and gory stories behind it. Visiting the Red Fort has further accentuated that sense of wonder. Although bang at the centre of the chaotic Old Delhi, once inside the fort you actually forget that there is much going out right outside the walls. And while there, I kept thinking this might only be a glimpse of what Old Delhi used to be. The beauty, the splendour and poetry that seem to ooze out of every corner must have been everywhere before the hard times came! It’s times like these I wish I was born much before my time.