Imagine the grandeur and glory of these gates once upon a time
The glorified era has ended and now the gates are just a mark of the past with no importance given to them and I feel their cries over the mistreatment they have been subjected to through ages
Have you seen the city of 13 gates? Lahore is a city that mystifies you in many ways. Probably this is a unique city with thirteen entrances to it and each entrance having its own origin and story. You travel through the scuffing streets looking at the corroding balconies and burnt brick structures; you will come across a new story of old times and a tale of the golden ages. Well, in the Mughal days, the Old City was surrounded by a nine-meter high brick wall and had a rampart running around it which served as a protection for the city. A circular road around the rampart gave access to the city through thirteen gates. This was the era of the third Mughal emperor Akbar the Great. The gates were opened at sunrise and closed at sunset every day. Imagine the grandeur and glory of these gates at that time. The Mughal soldiers or the Chobdaar standing with the guard elephants outside these gates, the princesses and princes, the kings and queens passing through these gigantic structures in their shiny flowing silk gowns; precious crowns and waving the public with zeal and love. Where hundreds of people would have been waiting to see the Mughal entourage. Some of the imposing structures of these gates still exist but life has changed within them.
The glorified era has ended and now the gates are just a mark of the past with no importance given to them and I feel their cries over the mistreatment they have been subjected to through ages.
The thirteen gates of Lahore are Delhi Gate, Roshnai Gate, Akbari Gate, Yakki Gate, Bhati Gate, Sheranwala Gate, Lohari Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Mori Gate, Masti Gate, Shah Alam Gate, Taxali Gate and Mochi Gate. Only six gates survive today which are Delhi Gate, Bhati Gate, Lohari Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Sheranwala and Roshnai Gate.
The only gate conserved so far is Delhi Gate which is also illuminated at night for tourists. The cries of this gate were heard during the conservation of Royal Trail project, otherwise it would also have been among the dilapidated ones. Another wonder attached to this gate now is the UNESCO award for the Shahi Hammam, which is on the left as you enter the gigantic arches of this gate. It is the gate situated on east of Walled City and opens towards Delhi City, which was the capital of the Mughal dynasty. The UNESCO awarded street Gali Surjan Singh is also located inside this gate. This gate is now becoming a popular one among the tourists as there are guided tours provided by the Walled City Authority in the streets of this gate. Monuments like Wazir Khan Mosque, Dina Nath Well, Golden Mosque, Baoli Bagh, Mariam Zamani Mosque, Janam Asthan Guru Arjun Raam and even the Royal Fort come on a straight path as you start your journey from Delhi Gate, which is why it is called the Royal Trail.
Next is Yakki gate whose structure does not exist now. The original name was “Zaki,” which was derived from the name of a martyr saint, who, according to tradition, fell fighting against the infidels from the north, while gallantly defending his city.
The river Ravi in former times flowed by the city walls, and the ferry was near the spot where a gate was built. The gate was, therefore, namedKhizri, after the name of Khizr Ilyas, the patron saint, according to the Mohammaden belief, of running waters and streams, and the discoverer of the water of immortality. During Ranjeet Singh’s rule, cages of two lions were put outside the gate owing to which the gate got familiarity with the name of Sheranwala gate. At present, this gate is a passage to the huge Pakistan Cloth Market. This gate needs restoration as it is in a dilapidated condition.
This Kashmiri gate is situated in the north of the Walled City. It is so named because of its opening towards the valley of Kashmir. Just like tribe “Bhat” in Bhati Gate, local natives of the gate belong to a tribe known as “Kashmiri”.
Another gate Masti Gate was ‘Masjidi’ gate as the street further down led to one of the oldest mosques in the city, the Mariam Zamani Mosque, named after the mother of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Over the years, the nameMasjidi was changed to Masti. This gate is now a lost part of Walled City Lahore’s history. This gate is opposite the Akbari Gate of Lahore Fort.
The only existing Mughal era gate is the Roshnai Gate (the gate of light) which was the gate to the main city of Lahore. It was lit by many lights and was named Roshnai Gate. This gate is still in its original shape and structure
The only existing Mughal era gate is the Roshnai Gate (the gate of light) which was the gate to the main city of Lahore. It was lit by many lights and was named Roshnai Gate. This gate is still in its original shape and structure. It exists near the main entrance of Samadhi of Ranjeet Singh and Badshahi Mosque. One of the walls of the Samadhi of Ranjeet Singh banks on this gate. At present the rooms of the gate are used as residence of the Archeology staff.
These are a few gates I have described in this piece, the following piece next week will tell you about other gates of Lahore. I think these gates need preservation as they are the marks of the past. The vanished gates also need to be reconstructed as a mark of history to demonstrate the grandeur and magnificence of the city.
