The son of Sher Shah Suri, Salim Shah Suri, built Salimgarh Fort in 1546 AD, in a former island of the River Yamuna. The fort is a part of Red Fort Complex.

It comes under the UNESCO World Heritage Site from 2007. This means the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is obliged to maintain it.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had turned the fort into prison. The British took the reign of this fort in 1857 and used it to imprison prisoners from the Indian National Army from 1945 to 1947.

In memory of the army prisoners who passed away inside this fort Salimgarh Fort is renamed as Swatantrata Senani Smarak. The fort is compared to England’s Tower of London where state prisoners were tortured to death.

Salimgarh Fort is said to be haunted. Several stories revolve around the presence of ghosts here. According to one of them, the daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb, Princess Zebunnisa, strolls in the fort on moonlit nights. She wears a black veil and sings poems, which are composed by her.

Locals have reported to have heard moans and groans of Indian army soldiers who died in the fort during their imprisonment. The neighborhood areas - Chandni Chowk, Chor Bazaar, and Nai Sarak - report a haunting feeling around the fort.

Architecture

Salimgarh Fort exhibits a triangular layout. It has thick walls constructed in rubble masonry. The fort features circular bastions. Since it was constructed, the fort has undergone several works of renovations.

An arch bridge, called Bahadur Shah Gate, was built to link Salimgarh fort with the Red fort on the northeast side. This was built during the rule of Bahadur Shah Zafar. The gate is of brick masonry with red sandstone. A railway line built by the British has pruned the fort area.

There is a Swatantra Sangram Museum within Salimgarh Fort in the Red Fort Complex. It was opened on October 2, 1995.

Best Time to Visit

Tourists can visit Salimgarh Fort all year round.

How to Reach

Delhi is well connected to major cities of India by rail, road, and air. There are metro trains, buses, cabs, and auto rickshaws that can take tourists to the fort.