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Which monuments did Shah Jahan build in Shahjahanabad, later called Old Delhi?
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Mughal dynasty
Emperors (from left, seated) Jahangir, Akbar, and Shah Jahan are depicted with their ministers (foreground) and Prince Dara Shikoh in a watercolor from India, c. 1630ā40.
In 1648, the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan completed his new capital, Shahjahanabad, in Delhi. The primary monuments he commissioned in the city include:
- Lal Qila (Red Fort): Planned along the Yamuna River, this citadel served as the imperial residence. It features notable structures such as the Diwan-i Am (Hall of Public Audience) and the Diwan-i Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the latter of which was known for its opulent decoration and the Nahr-i Bihisht ("Stream of Paradise") water channel.12
- Jama Masjid: Originally known as the Masjid-i Jahannuma, this mosque is built on a high plinth using red sandstone and marble. It is characterized by its vast courtyard, three marble domes, and tall minarets.132
While members of the imperial family also contributed to the city's developmentāsuch as Jahanara Begum, who laid out the Chandni Chowk market, and Roshanara Begum, who commissioned the Roshanara Baghāthe Red Fort and the Jama Masjid remain the most prominent architectural works directly associated with Shah Jahanās vision for the capital.1