Salimgarh Fort
| Salimgarh Fort | |
|---|---|
| Part of Delhi | |
| New Delhi, India | |
Entrance Gate to Salimgarh Fort | |
View of Bahadur Shah Gate at head of Arched bridge linking Salimgarh Fort and Red Fort | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fort and Prison |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Controlled by | Sur Empire (1546–1555) Mughal Empire (1555–1857) United Kingdom
|
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Condition | UNESCO World Heritage Site in Red Fort Complex |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 28°39′40″N 77°14′24″E / 28.661°N 77.240°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1546 AD |
| Built by | Islam Shah Suri of the Sur dynasty |
| Materials | Stones and Bricks |
| Battles/wars | Sur Empire siege of Delhi & British War against the Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Museum as Swatantrata Senani Smarak |
Salimgarh Fort (Salim's Fort) was built in 1546 AD, in Delhi, in a former island of the Yamuna River, by Salim Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah Suri. There was a pause in Mughal rule when in 1540 AD Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun (and ousted him from Delhi) and established the Sur Empire rule in Delhi. The Surid dynasty rule lasted till 1555 AD when Humayun regained his kingdom by defeating Sikander Suri, the last ruler of the dynasty. During the Mughal period, in later years, while building the Red Fort and Shahjahanbad, several Mughal rulers reigned, including Emperor Shahjahan, who is credited with completing Shahjahanabad in 1639 AD had camped at the fort. It is said that Humayun had camped at the fort for three days before launching his successful attack for recapturing Delhi.
Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, converted the fort into a prison, which practice was perpetuated by the British who took control of the fort in 1857. The fort is part of the Red Fort Complex. The complex was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, which obligates the Archaeological Survey of India (ASl) to ensure well-planned conservation measures for the heritage monuments.