Red Fort - Other Monuments

Chhatta Chowk

Chhatta Chowk was a marketplace during the time of Mughals where things like silk, jewellery, and many other items were sold to the household of the emperors. It is located nearby Lahori Gate.

The 32 arch bays of the chowk were used as shops which were contained in two-storey flats. Mostly the bazaars during the Mughal period were open air but Chhatta Chowk was a covered market and was called Bazaar-i-Musaqaf where saqaf meant roof.

Naubat Khana

Naubat Khana is a drum house which was used to make the announcements if any law was to be enforced or any royal person is arriving to the court and many other announcements. Music was also played five times a day. It is situated between the entrance of outer and inner courts.

Moti Masjid

Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque was constructed by Aurungzeb in 1659. The mosque was used by the emperor to offer prayers. It took around one year to build the mosque. White marble was used in its construction. The prayer hall of the mosque is divided into three arches. Each arch is divided into two aisles.

The domes were covered with gilded copper. The courtyard of the mosque is made with marble and prayer hall is located a little higher than the courtyard and is also built with marble. Outlines of prayer carpets have been designed on the floor which is made with black marble. A small ablution fountain can be found in the middle of the mosque.

Hayat Bakhsh Bagh

Hayat Bakhsh Bagh or life bestowing garden is the largest garden in the red fort. It was constructed during the reign of Shah Jahan. The garden covered the area of 200 square feet. British destroyed it during the mutiny of 1857 but Lord Curzon put some effort to restore some parts of the garden.

Sawan and Bhadon

Sawan and Bhadon are the mandaps or pavilions whose name have been kept as per the names of Hindu months which are the months of rain. It is not confirmed which one of them is Sawan and which one is Bhadon.

Both the pavilions are of the same size and built with white marble. During the night time small lamps were kept here for light and during the day time golden flowers were kept.

Nahr-i-Bihisht

Nahr-i-Bihisht or Stream of Paradise was a canal which was connected to the pavilions of the imperial apartments. The stream ran through the centre of each pavilion. The water of the stream was drawn from Yamuna river through Shahi Burj. Zer Jharokha is also there in the riverbed which is located below the apartments.

Hammam

Hammam was located to the south of Diwan-i-Khas and was used by the emperor to take bath. White marble was used to build the hammam. The hammam was divided into three parts each having a dome and are separated by corridors. Eastern part was used as a dressing room which also had a three fountain basins. The part on the west side was used for taking hot or steam bath.

Baoli

Baoli was a stepwell which British did not damage but they converted the chambers in the baoli into a prison. The baoli has staircases to go down into the well.