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 | |
Salimgarh Fort | |
| 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 (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.