History of Salimgarh Fort
Salim Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah Suri built this fort in 1546 AD, on a former island of the Yamuna River. This fort was named Salimgarh Fort. There was a pause in Mughal rule when in 1540 AD Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal Emperor Humayun (and ousted him from Delhi) and established the Sur dynasty rule in Delhi. Sur dynasty rule lasted till 1555 AD when Humayun regained his kingdom by defeating Sikander Suri, the last ruler of the dynasty. During the Mughal period, several Mughal rulers, including Emperor Shah Jahan, who completed Shahjahanabad in 1639 AD, camped at this fort while building the Red Fort and Shahjahanabad. Historical accounts suggest that Humayun camped at this fort for three days before launching his successful attack to recapture Delhi.
Transformation into a Prison
Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, converted the fort into a prison. The British, who took control of the fort in 1857, perpetuated this practice. The Fort is part of the Red Fort Complex. The declaration of the complex as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007 obligates the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to ensure well-planned conservation measures for the heritage monuments.