Gates of Delhi
Shahjahanabad, the 17th century city of Shah Jahan and the seventh city of Delhi, which was completed in 1649, was built like a huge fortress surrounded by strong rubble-built high walls from all sides with bastions, 14 high-arched openings gates and 16 windows. The city with its base at the imposing Red Fort (now the world’s largest non-functional fort) was a difficult proposition for any enemy to enter and challenge the sovereignty of the Mughal Emperor. Polygonal in plan, the city was strategically built with 14 gates for the people and the royal procession to enter or exit, while taking trips in different directions. At present, there are just five gates left of the grand city that have fortunately survived the ravages of time.
Kashmiri Gate
Located near the Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) on the north of the walled city, Kashmiri Gate was one of the important gates of Shahjahanabad as the royal processions of emperors used to pass through the gate on their trips to Kashmir or northern India. However, when the British came to this walled city, they strengthened the walls and gates of the city as a precautionary step to counter alien attack. In the process, they fortified Kashmiri gate in 1835 and made it a double gateway later. Thus the gate became the only gate of the city with double openings, one for entrance and the other as an exit.
Kashmiri Gate is historically important because during the 1857 war of Independence, the site was the scene of intense fighting. The fighters fired canon balls from the ramparts of this gate on the British army causing causalities. The English army in order to retake Delhi finally had to blow up the gate with much difficulty. Later when the British developed the Civil Lines area, Kashmiri Gate became the commercial center of Delhi.
Today, the gate is situated near a busy thoroughfare and a marketplace hardly noticed by passersby. However, one can still see the damage on the gate caused by the British bombardment.
Delhi Gate
Built in 1638, this is in the southern part of the wall. Because of its enormous size, it was named Dilli Gate. It is made of simple and ordinary stones. In those days the road that passed through it was known as ‘Thandi Sarak’ (Cool Road) because it was the coolest road of the city. Now it is known as Daryaganj which leads to Kashmiri Gate while the outer road leads to Hazrat Nizamuddin. A portion of the wall to the east still exists but the wall to the west is destroyed to make way for the railway station.
While talking about gates, it would be in the fitness of things to mention a gate known as ‘Khooni Darwaza’ (Bloody gate). It lies slightly beyond the old fortress of Delhi and has an important place in the history of the city and the first war of independence. It is built of red and ordinary stones. The tradition goes that the sons of Bahadur Shah, the last Mughal emperor, had taken shelter in Humayun’s tomb. They were arrested and shot dead while being taken to Red Fort. They were shot at this place by Hudson. He later justified their murder claiming that the crowd on seeing the chained princes was becoming restive, and sensing trouble he shot them dead. Dilliwalas believe that the signs of blood still visible on the gate belong to the murdered princes.
Now with the changed times neither there is that old Delhi nor those Dillwalas nor that spirit. Of the 13 gates only four survive now but not a single “window” exists today.
Ajmeri Gate
The main fourteen gates of Shahjahanabad, Ajmeri Gate located on the southwest of the walled city, near the New Delhi Railway Station is among the four existing gates that have escaped demolition. Ajmeri Gate was named so because a thoroughfare from the gate led to the city of Ajmer. Almost square in plan, the gate was built with high arched openings. During the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, all these gates were well guarded and were closed at night. Ajmeri Gate has been restored and is at present surrounded by a good park
Turkman Gate
Built in the late 1650s, Turkman Gate was the southern gate of the old walled city. Named after the pious Muslim saint, Hazrat Shah Turkman Bayabani whose tomb predates Shahjahanabad, Turkman Gate, located near the Ramlila Ground can today be reached by taking the Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg. This gate like the other gates of Shahjahanabad is square in plan with high arched openings. Locally known as Turkman Gate, it is too now amidst one of the densely populated areas of the capital.
Nigambodh Gate
The last of the remaining gates of the old walled city is Nigambodh Gate. Located on northeastern edge the city on the Ring Road near the Yamuna Bazaar, Nigambodh Gate derives its name from the popular Nigambodh Ghat. According to the legend the ghat belongs to the period of Mahabharata. It was on this ghat that Lord Brahma is said to have bathed and recovered his lost memory and sacred books and thus the name Nigambodh Ghat, meaning realization of knowledge.
Related posts:
- History of Delhi There are no records of early history of Delhi prior...
- Shakti Sthal Located north of Vir Bhumi, the memorial of Rajiv Gandhi,...
- Shahajahanabad Garden In Mughal times, the northern part of Delhi was a...
- Libraries in Delhi There are some very good libraries in Delhi. These are...
- Raj Ghat Located between the main Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Road) and...