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Salimgarh Fort
Salimgarh Fort (also known as Salim's Fort) was built in 1546 CE in Old Delhi, on what was then an island of the Yamuna River, by Salim Shah Suri, the son of Sher Shah Suri. The fort was constructed during a period when the Mughal Empire had been temporarily overthrown; in 1540 CE, Sher Shah Suri had defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun and established the rule of the Sur Empire rule in Delhi. The Surid dynasty continued until 1555 CE, when Humayun regained control by defeating Sikandar Suri, the last ruler of the dynasty.
During the Mughal period, particularly in later years, Salimgarh Fort continued to be of strategic significance. While constructing the Red Fort and the city of Shahjahanbad, several Mughal rulers, including Emperor Shah Jahan—who completed Shahjahanabad in 1639 CE—are believed to have camped at the fort. It is also said that Humayun camped there for three days before launching his successful campaign to recapture Delhi.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb later converted the fort into a prison, a practice that was continued by the British after they took control of the fort in 1857. Salimgarh Fort is now part of the Red Fort Complex. The complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, obligating the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake well-planned conservation measures for its preservation.
The location chosen for building the fortification was in the Delhi plains, with an elevation ranging between 80–110 feet (24–34 m), bordered by the Yamuna River on one side and the northern spur of the Aravalli range on the other. This topography—with exposed rock formations at the fort site, proximity to the northeast-trending ridge, and alignment with the Jama Masjid—was seen as ideal for protection against erosion by the Yamuna. Moreover, the combination of a river on one side and a mountain ridge on the other provided a natural defensive barrier, compelling any invading force to follow the river course. Considering these strategic advantages, Salimgarh Fort was constructed in 1546.
After regaining his empire, Humayun renamed Salimgarh Fort as Nurghar, since Sher Shah Suri—the founder of the Sur Empire and father of Salim Shah Suri, who built the fort—had earlier ousted Humayun from his kingdom in 1540 CE. As a result, Humayun decreed that the fort's original name should not be used in his court.
During British rule, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which was eventually suppressed by 1858, led to significant activity at the fort. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, was taken prisoner at Humayun's Tomb. During the rebellion, Salimgarh Fort became a centre of wartime operations. From the British perspective, Bahadur Shah Zafar's "complicity with the mutinous soldiers was obvious." He is said to have operated from this fort and convened meetings in August and early September 1857 to discuss war strategy. He reportedly observed artillery fire against the British Indian Army from the fort's ramparts.
On one occasion, when approached by army officers requesting their salaries, he made a symbolic gesture by offering to pawn his crown jewels and even sacrifice his life for the cause. The officers declined his offer, trusting the Emperor's sincerity. Subsequently, proclamations were issued declaring that the Emperor would lead an assault against the British and urging people of all castes and creeds to join the resistance.
By mid-September 1857, however, British troops were advancing on the fort. At that point, Bahadur Shah's trusted aide, Bakht Khan, advised him to retreat and prepare for guerrilla warfare in the open countryside. The Emperor, however, refused to flee. While he permitted his forces to evacuate, he himself relocated to Humayun's Tomb. The British Fourth Infantry eventually entered Salimgarh Fort through a single entry point. Similar circumstances were reported when the Punjab Fourth Infantry Regiment had earlier entered the Red Fort via the Lahore Gate.
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Salimgarh Fort
Salimgarh Fort (also known as Salim's Fort) was built in 1546 CE in Old Delhi, on what was then an island of the Yamuna River, by Salim Shah Suri, the son of Sher Shah Suri. The fort was constructed during a period when the Mughal Empire had been temporarily overthrown; in 1540 CE, Sher Shah Suri had defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun and established the rule of the Sur Empire rule in Delhi. The Surid dynasty continued until 1555 CE, when Humayun regained control by defeating Sikandar Suri, the last ruler of the dynasty.
During the Mughal period, particularly in later years, Salimgarh Fort continued to be of strategic significance. While constructing the Red Fort and the city of Shahjahanbad, several Mughal rulers, including Emperor Shah Jahan—who completed Shahjahanabad in 1639 CE—are believed to have camped at the fort. It is also said that Humayun camped there for three days before launching his successful campaign to recapture Delhi.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb later converted the fort into a prison, a practice that was continued by the British after they took control of the fort in 1857. Salimgarh Fort is now part of the Red Fort Complex. The complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, obligating the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake well-planned conservation measures for its preservation.
The location chosen for building the fortification was in the Delhi plains, with an elevation ranging between 80–110 feet (24–34 m), bordered by the Yamuna River on one side and the northern spur of the Aravalli range on the other. This topography—with exposed rock formations at the fort site, proximity to the northeast-trending ridge, and alignment with the Jama Masjid—was seen as ideal for protection against erosion by the Yamuna. Moreover, the combination of a river on one side and a mountain ridge on the other provided a natural defensive barrier, compelling any invading force to follow the river course. Considering these strategic advantages, Salimgarh Fort was constructed in 1546.
After regaining his empire, Humayun renamed Salimgarh Fort as Nurghar, since Sher Shah Suri—the founder of the Sur Empire and father of Salim Shah Suri, who built the fort—had earlier ousted Humayun from his kingdom in 1540 CE. As a result, Humayun decreed that the fort's original name should not be used in his court.
During British rule, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which was eventually suppressed by 1858, led to significant activity at the fort. The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, was taken prisoner at Humayun's Tomb. During the rebellion, Salimgarh Fort became a centre of wartime operations. From the British perspective, Bahadur Shah Zafar's "complicity with the mutinous soldiers was obvious." He is said to have operated from this fort and convened meetings in August and early September 1857 to discuss war strategy. He reportedly observed artillery fire against the British Indian Army from the fort's ramparts.
On one occasion, when approached by army officers requesting their salaries, he made a symbolic gesture by offering to pawn his crown jewels and even sacrifice his life for the cause. The officers declined his offer, trusting the Emperor's sincerity. Subsequently, proclamations were issued declaring that the Emperor would lead an assault against the British and urging people of all castes and creeds to join the resistance.
By mid-September 1857, however, British troops were advancing on the fort. At that point, Bahadur Shah's trusted aide, Bakht Khan, advised him to retreat and prepare for guerrilla warfare in the open countryside. The Emperor, however, refused to flee. While he permitted his forces to evacuate, he himself relocated to Humayun's Tomb. The British Fourth Infantry eventually entered Salimgarh Fort through a single entry point. Similar circumstances were reported when the Punjab Fourth Infantry Regiment had earlier entered the Red Fort via the Lahore Gate.