History of Gates of Delhi

Gates of Delhi were built by different rulers belonging to different dynasties. Ajmeri Gate, Turqman Gate, Delhi Gate, Nigambodh Gate, Bahadur Shahi Gate, Khooni Darwaza, are some of the famous gates here.

Gates in the First City
In the first city of Delhi, 13 gates were built in the 11th century citadel of Lal Kot. However, only a few of them remain now. These are the Chaumukha, Sohan, Ranjit, Fateh, Hauz Rani, Barka, Badaun and Budayuni gates. Among these the Chaumukha, Ranjit, Sohan and Fateh darwazas are regarded as heritage monuments by the INTACH.

The Chaumukha Darwaza, is the gate way of Lal Kot. It is located close to the Qutub Complex and is conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. That architectural style of the gate belongs to the Tuglaq period. The Ranjit gate located towards the north wall of Lal Kot is in ruined state now. It is through this gate that the Turks had entered the city. Presently only part of the gate can be seen. The Fateh Gate has been made in a complicated way and is about 24 m in diameter. The Sohan Gate here is guarded by a large bastion. Hauz Rani and Budayuni Gates, which were once prominent gates, are now in ruins. The Budayuni gate was earlier the chief gate of the city by Ibn Battuta. It is here that Ala-ud-din Khilji broke all his wine caskets and shunned drinking. The guilty were also punished here. Ala-ud-din Khilji wanted to build four darwazas (gates). He could however build only one, the Alai Darwaza. It has a wide and bulging dome and is built of red sandstone.

Gates of Second City
The second medieval city comprises of the Siri Fort. It was built during the reign of Ala-ud-Din Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate. It was built to protect the city from the terror of the Mongols. When the city was built it was adorned with palaces and other rich structures. It then had seven gates for entry and exit. However, only the South eastern gate exists presently. Rest all were destroyed by the local rulers of subsequent dynasties to establish their own buildings and palaces.

Gates of Third City
The third city, Tughlaqabad of the medieval Delhi was erected by Ghazi Malik well known as Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq. He is known for establishing the Tughluq Dynasty in 1321. The city was enclosed within a massive fort that was built within four years. When the city was built it is said to have 52 gates but only 13 remain today. Rest all the other gates are in ruins now. The architectural design of the main entry gate to the fort resembles the Patthan style. It had been made of red sand stone with sloping face and jambs.

Kashmiri (Cashmere) Gate is situated in the North-Western part of the erstwhile walled city of Shahjahanabad or present-day Old Delhi. The revolt of 1857 provides a significant background to this ‘Darwaza’; it was captured by the rebel sepoys, the double passages of the gate were sealed and its bastion fortified. The British artillery positioned at the Northern Ridge heavily bombarded the Kashmiri Gate. It was in September 1857, after four months of the siege that the gate was finally breached. The gate extensively damaged bears witness to the great Mutiny.