Red Fort Archaeological Museum, Archaeological museum in Red Fort complex, Delhi, India
The Red Fort Archaeological Museum is an archaeological museum inside the Red Fort complex in Delhi, housed in the historic Mumtaz Mahal building. The collection is spread across three gallery sections and covers artwork, weapons, and objects from everyday life during the Mughal period.
The museum opened in 1911 inside the Naubhat Khana building and later moved to the Mumtaz Mahal, which British forces had used as military quarters. The move allowed the collection to grow and be displayed in a setting more suited to its content.
The museum sits inside the Mumtaz Mahal, a building that once served as part of the women's quarters of the fort. The objects on display, from textiles to personal belongings, give a sense of how daily life actually looked within the Mughal court.
Entry to the museum is covered by the Red Fort ticket, so no separate admission is needed once inside the complex. Allow enough time to walk through all three sections, and be aware that the building has stairs and uneven floors.
A large part of the most prized Mughal objects that once belonged to this site were taken to British and European museums during colonial times and never returned. The collection here is therefore made up mostly of pieces that are rarely seen outside India.
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