Built entirely in red sandstone, the Lal Qila a.k.a Red Fort is the oldest and one of the most magnificent Mughal-era monuments in the walled city of Old Delhi. It dates back to 1638, when it became the residence and political centre of the Mughal Empire, and retains its significance as the site of hoisting of India’s national flag on the country’s Independence Day (August 15th). Preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fort fuses the Islamic, Persian and Hindu styles of architecture, and is best visited at sunset, when a sound and light show reinstates the fort to its original glory.