The Red Fort, or Lal Qila, is a historic Mughal fort in Delhi, India. The fort's name is derived from its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone. The fort's construction was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1638 and was completed in 1648. It was designed as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad, the new capital of the Mughal Empire, which included the city of Delhi.

The Red Fort was the main residence of the Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years, until 1857. It was not only a royal residence but also a ceremonial and political center of the Mughal government, symbolizing the might of the empire.

After the Mughal Empire's decline, the fort saw many occupants, including the Marathas and, eventually, the British after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Following the rebellion, the British exiled Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, marking the end of the Mughal era, and took over the fort. During British occupation, a large number of its structures were destroyed to make way for military installations. The British used the fort as a garrison.

The Red Fort has been a symbol of India’s struggle for independence. On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate, starting a tradition that continues to this day with the Prime Minister raising the flag and delivering a speech on Independence Day each year.