Red Fort, the 17th century Mughal marvel, was given the world heritage site status by UNESCO on Thursday.


Pitted against 45 other sites from across the globe, the Red Fort is among the four cultural sites that was selected by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which is currently meeting in New Zealand [Images] to choose the next heritage sites.

Japan's Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Turkmenistan's Parthian Fortresses of Nisa and Australia's Sydney Opera are the other sites that will now be inscribed in the UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Red Fort is considered to represent the zenith of Mughal creativity, which under emperor Shah Jahan was brought to a new level of refinement.

The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal building, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid and Hindu traditions, UNESCO said in a statement.

The palace was designed as an imitation of paradise as described in the Koran; a couplet inscribed in the palace reads, "If there be a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here."

The Red Fort's innovative planning and architectural style, including its garden design, strongly influenced later buildings and gardens in Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra and further afield.

Through, its fabric, the complex reflects all phases of Indian history from the Mughal period to independence, it said.