New Delhi's iconic Red Fort will be temporarily off-limits to the public for a significant period in December 2025. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has ordered the closure to facilitate a high-profile international gathering.
Dates and Details of the Closure
The monument will be shut to visitors from December 5 to December 14, 2025. This decision revises an earlier notification from November 19, which had proposed a closure starting December 3. The fort is scheduled to reopen to the public on December 15, 2025.
The reason for this temporary shutdown is a prestigious event. The Red Fort will host the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The committee's session is set to run from December 8 to 13, 2025.
Significance of the UNESCO Event at the Fort
Choosing the Red Fort as the venue underscores its global symbolic and historical importance. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosting this committee highlights India's commitment to preserving cultural legacy. The event will focus on intangible cultural heritage, which includes:
- Traditional arts and crafts
- Oral traditions and music
- Performance arts and living heritage practices
This move shifts the spotlight from the fort's physical architecture to the living, breathing cultural traditions it represents.
Practical Implications and Broader Context
The closure highlights the practical challenges of managing and safeguarding active heritage sites in a bustling metropolis like Delhi. Extensive arrangements and heightened security protocols for the international delegates necessitate the temporary access restriction.
This is not the first time the fort has been closed for a UNESCO-related event or for security reasons. The monument also faces ongoing conservation challenges. A recent scientific study warned that Delhi's pollution is damaging the fort's red sandstone, leading to issues like:
- Formation of a 'black crust'
- Loss of detail in carvings
- Plaster blistering and dampness
For visitors planning a trip in late 2025, it is essential to note the closure dates and reschedule accordingly. The Red Fort remains a living centre of India's cultural narrative, and this event reinforces its ongoing role on the world stage.
