In a recent update, the iconic Red Fort in New Delhi will remain shut to public visitors between December 5 and December 14, 2025. The reason behind is extremely prestigious. The monument is all set to host the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The cultural and architectural wonder is getting ready for a highly prestigious cultural-heritage event. This decision stems from a revised order issued by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The earlier notification was issued on November 19 which had proposed a closure from December 3.. The event will run from December 8 to 13 and because it is a high-profile gathering, ASI and local authorities had to take the decision. The extensive arrangements and heightened security protocols are demanding. As per announcement, the Red Fort is scheduled to reopen to visitors on December 15, 2025. How will it effect
The Red Fort is not only one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks, it is also an internationally recognised heritage monument and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now that it has been chosen to host a dignified event, it shows the fort’s symbolic and historic importance. The gathering will spotlight “intangible cultural heritage”. This means it is a domain that goes beyond stone and architecture to encompass traditional arts, crafts, oral traditions, music, performance, and living heritage. The choice of such a heritage-rich, emblematic monument as a venue just adds to the whole significance of India’s living cultural legacy.But the temporary closure also shows something bigger: the practical burdens of preserving, managing, and safeguarding heritage. Especially in a high-end city like Delhi.Not a first-time closureIt’s not the first time that the fort has been shut for a UNESCO event. It isn’t the first time access has been restricted. Earlier this month, because of a major incident at the fort’s perimeter, the Red Fort had been closed for security reasons. Also, conservation challenges have intensified in recent years. A recent scientific study warned that the Fort’s red sandstone is suffering in Delhi’s pollution leading to “black crust” formation, loss of carvings’ detail, plaster blistering, dampness, and other structural risks. What visitors should know
If you are planning to visit the Red Fort between Dec 5 and Dec 14, 2025, you’ll need to postpone. The Fort is expected to reopen on December 15, allowing public access again. For heritage enthusiasts, the Red Fort is a living centre of cultural heritage, not just a relic of the past.As the Fort gets ready to host delegates from across the globe, the closer only shows the heritage value of the architecture.
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