The short answer
Salimgarh Fort: what visitors should know first
Worth a short stop if you are already at the Red Fort and interested in the freedom struggle. The memorial museum is small, and the access arrangements have varied, so check on the day. Allow an hour and do not plan a separate trip.
History and context
The story behind Salimgarh Fort
Salim Shah Suri built Salimgarh in 1546 on an island in the Yamuna. Under Aurangzeb it became a prison, and the British used it as a military camp and again as a prison.
After 1857 Bahadur Shah Zafar II was held there before exile to Rangoon. The Swatantra Sangram Museum, opened in 1995, remembers INA members imprisoned there from 1945 to 1947.
Useful facts
Salimgarh Fort facts at a glance
- Location
- Beside the Red Fort, Old Delhi
- Experience type
- Small fort with memorial museum
- Known for
- INA prisoners and the freedom struggle
- Built
- 1546, by Salim Shah Suri
- Museum
- Swatantrata Senani Smarak, opened 1995
- Access
- By a bridge from the Red Fort; confirm opening on the day
Why it matters
Why Salimgarh Fort is worth your time
Salimgarh was built in 1546 by Salim Shah Suri, the son of Sher Shah Suri, and later became a state prison, first under Aurangzeb and then under the British. After the 1857 rebellion, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, was held there briefly before being exiled.
In 1945–47 the British used it to hold INA prisoners, and the museum now commemorates that history. For a visitor the fort turns the Red Fort from a Mughal palace into a stage for nationalist memory as well.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The bridge crossing
An arched bridge from the Red Fort's northeastern side links the two forts.
- 02
The memorial museum
Displays on INA prisoners add a personal story to the Red Fort visit.
- 03
Prison history
From Aurangzeb to the British, the fort's second life as a jail is part of its character.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Plan Salimgarh as the quiet end of your Red Fort morning. From the northeastern side of the Red Fort, an arched bridge leads across to the smaller fort, which once stood on an island in the Yamuna. The walk across gives you a sense of the river-edge setting the Mughals used.
The visit is mostly about the Swatantrata Senani Smarak, also called the Swatantra Sangram Museum, which opened in 1995 to honour members of the Indian National Army who were held here in 1945–47. Read the displays at your own pace. They give the place a human focus that the Red Fort's palace halls do not.
Because Salimgarh is small, it works well for visitors who are tired of the crowds at the main fort. Spend a few minutes on the outer walls, then return through the Red Fort for tea or lunch in Old Delhi.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Ask at the Red Fort counter whether Salimgarh is open
- Keep an hour for the visit after the main fort
- Carry water; the lawns have little shade
- Read museum labels before you go in to get the context
- Do not expect a café inside
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Beside the Red Fort, Old Delhi, on the northeastern side
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes
- Best time
- Morning, October to March
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Short distances and mostly level paths, reached by the bridge from the Red Fort. The Red Fort approach itself involves walking, so budget energy for that first.
- Tickets and access
- Salimgarh is part of the Red Fort complex and is reached from within it. Access conditions and any separate fee have varied, so confirm at the Red Fort ticket counter whether it is open that day.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Salimgarh Fort
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Short distances and mostly level paths, reached by the bridge from the Red Fort. The Red Fort approach itself involves walking, so budget energy for that first.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Salimgarh part of the Red Fort?
It is a separate, smaller fort in the same complex, joined to the Red Fort by a bridge.
What is inside Salimgarh?
The main feature is the Swatantra Sangram Museum, a memorial to INA prisoners held there in 1945–47.
Is it open every day?
Access conditions have varied, so confirm with the Red Fort ticket counter on the day.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
