May 23, 2015

Interior view of the Lahore Gate of Palace, Delhi - 1858

Interior view of the Lahore Gate of Palace, Delhi - 1858

Photograph of Lahore Gate in Delhi from 'Murray Collection: Views in Delhi, Cawnpore, Allahabad and Benares' taken by Dr. John Murray in 1858 after the Uprising of 1857. The Lahore Gate, the western gate to the Red Fort or Lal Qila, was constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1627-1658) for his new city Shahjahanabad. The Lahore gate was one of the main entrances to the fort and is composed of a central arch with side towers. The octogonal shaped fort complex is surrounded by high fortification walls of red sandstone which reach between 18-33 m in height. Key palace buildings inside the fort include the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), Moti Masjid, and the Khas Mahal (private chambers of the emperor).

Source: British Library