The newly launched Red Fort Center has something for every history buff as it uses innovative tools from a 360-degree immersive viewing experience to augmented reality photography to give visitors a slice of Mughal history, especially the imposing 17th century fort-palace like never before . Housed on two floors in a renovated British-era barracks inside the fort between the ‘Chhata Bazaar’ flea market and the ‘Naubat-Khana’ drum house, the center was designed by ‘Monument Mitra’ Dalmia Bharat of the Red Fort along with the Ministry of Culture. , Ministry of Tourism and Archaeological Survey of India.
Be it informative jigsaw puzzles, entertaining sessions like Dastangoi on the intricate articles sold at Chhata Bazaar during the heyday of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, or an immersive 360-degree experience watching a short film showcasing the inauguration of the Red Fort, the center ticks several boxes in showcasing the country’s illustrious heritage.
“We welcome our fellow citizens and guests from all over the world to visit and experience the old-world charm of Delhi through the best-in-class Red Fort Centre. It aims to provide an immediate understanding of how the transformation and history of Delhi and the magnificent opulence of the majestic monument has left its mark ,” said Puneet Dalmia, Managing Director, Dalmia Bharat Limited.
Apart from tourist attractions such as the gift shop and refreshments on the ground floor, another hit with visitors is the augmented reality photo room, where visitors can have their photo taken with the ‘Peacock Throne’ – the jeweled throne built by Emperor Shah Jahan – or the Indian flag on the walls of the Red Fort. The first floor, called the “Interpretation Center”, equipped with rare archival photographs of the historical monument, is a kind of crash course in the rich history of the iconic heritage.
It is divided into four sections: ‘Safar’, ‘Zindagi’, ‘Tareekh’ and ‘Hum Ek Hain’. While Safar will introduce visitors to Delhi before the founding of the Red Fort and Shahjahanabad, Zindagi will give them an insight into the grand architecture, royal traditions and luxurious living of the fort. Tareekh and Hum Ek Hain are based on defining moments in India’s history with the Red Fort as the fulcrum and the location of the historical monument as a stronghold of India and the country’s unity in diversity.
According to Anand Bhardwaj, General Manager (Heritage & Events), Dalmia Bharat, the entire barrack has been meticulously preserved using lime – and not cement – similar to the way it was built by the British after the 1857 rebellion, when they destroyed nearly “90 percent” of the Red Fort’s architectural setting. “Conservation work started around February 2019 and it took us a little less than three years, including the Covid period (when the memorial was closed) to get this structure in place,” Bhardwaj told. Dalmia Bharat Limited, a cement company, has been selected as ‘Monument Mitra’ to adopt and develop the Red Fort’s tourist facilities in 2018.
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