The Red Fort Complex's Quieter Half

Salimgarh Fort

Also Known As · Salimgarh · Salim Garh Fort

New Delhi, Delhi · fort

The quiet, older half of the Red Fort complex — a triangular Sur-dynasty island fort linked by a Mughal bridge, now a freedom-struggle museum.

Days OpenOpen daily
Entry Fee₹35
Best SeasonOctober to March
Best Time of DayLate morning to early afternoon
Time Needed30 to 45 minutes (within a Red Fort visit)
Nearest MetroLal Qila
Crowd LevelsMuch quieter than the main Red Fort palaces
Kid Friendly3 of 5
Wheelchair AccessPartial

Open dailyEntry Fee: ₹35Accessible within the Red Fort Complex, open daily (per a February 2026 ASI order that ended the Monday closure); ticketed monument hours have historically been ~9:30 AM to 4:30 PM but may have been extended — verify current timings locally

Salimgarh Fort is the older, quieter and far less-visited half of the Red Fort Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site — a triangular stone fort that once stood on an island in the Yamuna, now linked to the Red Fort by a historic arched bridge. It was built in 1546 CE by Salim Shah Suri (Islam Shah Suri), son of Sher Shah Suri, during the brief Sur-dynasty interregnum, and it carries a remarkable depth of history in a compact space.

Get Directions

Where to Eat Nearby

Nearby Vegetarian Eats

Paranthe Wali Gali (Pt. Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan)

1.2 km away

street food

Pure-veg stuffed parathas, no onion or garlic

Bikanervala, Fatehpuri

1.3 km away

casual

Pure-vegetarian sweets and North Indian

Haldiram's, Chandni Chowk

1 km away

casual

Pure-vegetarian chaat, thalis and sweets

About

It was built in 1546 CE by Salim Shah Suri (Islam Shah Suri), son of Sher Shah Suri, during the brief Sur-dynasty interregnum, and it carries a remarkable depth of history in a compact space.
Mughal rulers used the fort as a camp — Humayun is said to have stayed here before recapturing Delhi in 1555, and Shah Jahan reportedly camped here while building nearby Shahjahanabad.
Under Aurangzeb it became a state prison, and the arched Bahadur Shah Gate bridge, added in Bahadur Shah Zafar's reign, connected it to the adjoining Red Fort.
After the 1857 uprising the British used it as a military camp, and it held Indian National Army prisoners between 1945 and 1947.
In 1995 the ASI opened the fort and its Swatantrata Senani (Freedom Fighters') Museum to the public, and in 2007 it was inscribed, with the Red Fort, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its layered story — Sur stronghold, Mughal camp and prison, British barracks, INA detention site — makes it a compact walk through several centuries of Delhi's past.
For vegetarian travellers nearby Chandni Chowk is a pure-veg treasure trove — the historic Paranthe Wali Gali, Bikanervala and Haldiram's are all close.

Practical notes

Salimgarh cannot be entered on its own — access is through the Red Fort Complex on a Red Fort ticket (about ₹35 for Indians and SAARC visitors, roughly ₹500–₹550 for foreign nationals; children under 15 free), bought at the counter or the official ASI channel. The complex is open daily (per a February 2026 ASI order that ended the earlier Monday closure); ticketed monument hours have historically been about 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM but may since have been extended, so verify current timings locally. Expect security screening and bag limits. Nearest metro: Lal Qila (Violet Line), about 0.8 km. Allow the visit within a wider Red Fort tour.

Timings & Entry Fee

Visiting Hours

• Within the Red Fort Complex, open daily (Feb 2026 ASI order)
• Ticketed monument hours historically ~9:30 AM – 4:30 PM — verify locally
• Reached via the internal Bahadur Shah Gate bridge

Days OpenWithin Red Fort hours (all 7 days per 2026 order)Entry Fee₹35Time Needed30 to 45 minutes (within a Red Fort visit)

Entry Fee: No separate ticket — access is on the Red Fort ticket (~₹35 Indians / SAARC, roughly ₹500–₹550 foreign nationals; under-15 free), from the counter or the official ASI channel. Confirm the current rate.

Verified: July 2026

Location & How to Reach

Address

Within the Red Fort Complex, Netaji Subhash Marg, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, 110006

Inside the Red Fort Complex, across the Bahadur Shah Gate bridge, Old Delhi

📍 Get Directions 🗺️ View on map

🚇 Nearest Metro: Lal Qila (Violet Line) — about 0.8 km; Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) ~1.2 km

🚶 Walking from Metro: About 0.8 km from Lal Qila metro to the Red Fort entrance, then across the internal bridge to Salimgarh.

Distance from

• Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL): 20 km (~55 min)
• Connaught Place: 5 km (~25 min)
• Lal Qila metro: 0.8 km (~10 min)

Parking

street · Paid

Paid parking near the Red Fort; the area is congested — the metro is easier.

🚕 Ride Hailing Tip: Autos and cabs drop near the Red Fort on Netaji Subhash Marg; Lal Qila metro is a short walk.

How to Reach: Salimgarh is reached through the Red Fort Complex, Old Delhi. Nearest metro: Lal Qila (Violet Line), about 0.8 km, or Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line), about 1.2 km; walk to the Red Fort entrance, buy a ticket, and cross the internal Bahadur Shah Gate bridge to Salimgarh. It is on Netaji Subhash Marg, well served by autos, taxis and buses.

Things to Do

Cross the Bahadur Shah Gate bridge
Visit the Swatantrata Senani Museum
Explore the triangular ramparts and bastions
Combine with the Red Fort palaces
Photograph the quiet UNESCO corner

Best Time to Visit

Best SeasonOctober to MarchBest Time of DayLate morning to early afternoonTime Needed30 to 45 minutes (within a Red Fort visit)Crowd LevelsMuch quieter than the main Red Fort palaces

History & Significance

History

Salimgarh Fort was built in 1546 CE by Salim Shah Suri (Islam Shah Suri), son of Sher Shah Suri, on what was then a Yamuna island during the Sur-dynasty interregnum.

Mughal rulers used it as a camp (Humayun before recapturing Delhi in 1555; Shah Jahan while building Shahjahanabad), and under Aurangzeb it became a state prison; the arched Bahadur Shah Gate bridge, added in Bahadur Shah Zafar's reign, linked it to the Red Fort.
The British later used it as a military camp, and it held Indian National Army prisoners in 1945–47.
The ASI opened the fort and its Swatantrata Senani Museum in 1995, and in 2007 it was inscribed with the Red Fort as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🏛️ Architect: A roughly triangular fort built to fit its former river-island site, with thick rubble-masonry walls and circular bastions; its most photogenic element is the red-sandstone-and-brick arched Bahadur Shah Gate bridge linking it to the Red Fort. The interior barracks, adapted by the British and later as a museum, are plainer than the Red Fort palaces.

Significance

Salimgarh is one of Delhi's older surviving forts and the quieter half of the Red Fort Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site, linked to the Red Fort by the historic Bahadur Shah Gate bridge.

Its layered history — Sur stronghold, Mughal camp and prison, British barracks and INA detention site — is now interpreted through the on-site Swatantrata Senani Museum dedicated to India's freedom struggle.

Places to Visit Nearby

Red Fort (Lal Qila)

0.3 km away

The Mughal capital's mighty red-sandstone citadel, the other half of the complex.

Digambar Jain Lal Mandir

0.5 km away

Delhi's oldest Jain temple, opposite the Red Fort.

Chandni Chowk

1 km away

Old Delhi's grand historic market avenue.

Raj Ghat

1.5 km away

The riverside memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Family & Accessibility

Kid Friendly3of 5Stroller AccessPartialWheelchair AccessPartialChanging RoomNoPet PolicyNo

Family Highlights

• A 16th-century Sur-dynasty island fort
• The arched Bahadur Shah Gate bridge
• The Swatantrata Senani freedom-struggle museum
• The quiet corner of the UNESCO Red Fort complex

Photography & Drone

Drone PolicyProhibited

💰 Equipment Fees: Included with the Red Fort ticket; museum photography per signage.

📍 The Golden Spot: The red-sandstone Bahadur Shah Gate bridge linking Salimgarh to the Red Fort.

🌅 Best Light Time: Late morning, when the complex is open and the ramparts are lit.

Tips & Safety

⚠️ Common Scams

Touts near the Red Fort

Unofficial "guides" and sellers work the crowded Red Fort entrance.

Official AdviceBuy tickets only at the official counter or ASI channel, and decline unsolicited guide offers.

💡 Insider Tips

🌅 Secret View: Most Red Fort visitors never cross to Salimgarh — the bridge and the quiet ramparts reward the short extra walk with near-solitude inside a UNESCO site.

🎯 Crowd Hack: Head to Salimgarh first thing after entering the Red Fort, before the main palace route fills up.

💎 Secret Fact: Built in 1546 on a Yamuna island, it later served as a Mughal prison and held Indian National Army prisoners in 1945–47; its museum is dedicated to the freedom struggle.

⚡ Express Tour

30 minutes — the bridge, the ramparts and the museum.

🔭 Deep Dive Tour

A full morning — the Red Fort palaces plus Salimgarh and its museum.

🙏 Etiquette & Dress Code

Do's

Walk across the arched Bahadur Shah Gate bridge from the Red Fort
Visit the Swatantrata Senani (Freedom Fighters) Museum
Explore the triangular ramparts and circular bastions
Combine it with the Red Fort palaces and Kranti Mandir museums
Photograph the quieter, less-crowded corner of the complex

Don'ts

Do not expect to enter Salimgarh on its own — it needs a Red Fort ticket
Do not carry large bags — security screening is strict
Do not stray onto fenced/conservation areas
Do not skip verifying current timings and the Monday status

👕 Dress Code: Comfortable walking shoes for uneven ramparts; sun protection and water in summer.

📷 Photography Rules: Personal photography is allowed across the open fort; follow signage inside the museum.

Good to Know

💳 Money & Connectivity

UPIYesCardsPartialCashYes

🏧 Nearest ATM: ATMs around Chandni Chowk and Netaji Subhash Marg (within 1 km).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Salimgarh Fort timings and entry fee?

There is no separate ticket — access is on the Red Fort ticket (about ₹35 for Indians/SAARC, roughly ₹500–₹550 for foreign nationals; under-15 free). It is open within the Red Fort Complex daily (per a February 2026 ASI order that ended the Monday closure); ticketed monument hours have historically been about 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM but may have been extended, so verify current timings locally.

Which is the nearest metro to Salimgarh Fort?

Lal Qila on the Violet Line is nearest, about 0.8 km; Chandni Chowk on the Yellow Line is about 1.2 km. Walk to the Red Fort entrance and cross the internal bridge.

Can you visit Salimgarh Fort on its own?

No — it is reached only through the Red Fort Complex, across the internal Bahadur Shah Gate bridge, so you need a Red Fort ticket; parts may occasionally close for conservation.

What is inside Salimgarh Fort?

The Swatantrata Senani (Freedom Fighters) Museum, dedicated to INA prisoners and India's freedom struggle, plus the triangular ramparts, circular bastions and the historic bridge.

Why is Salimgarh Fort important?

Built in 1546 on a Yamuna island, it is part of the UNESCO Red Fort Complex and carries a layered history — Sur stronghold, Mughal camp and prison, British barracks and INA detention site.

Where can I eat vegetarian food near Salimgarh Fort?

Nearby Chandni Chowk is full of pure-veg options — the historic Paranthe Wali Gali, Bikanervala at Fatehpuri and Haldiram's.