Monday 28 October 2013

LAHORE GATES ( A BEAUTY OF LAHORE )

Lahore Gates


Lahore city is walled by 13 great doors. There were 13 gates but 6 survive. Theses gates are made up of iron and wood. The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the "Old City," or "Androon Shehar" Lahore was fortified by a city wall during the Mughal era. It is located in the north western part of the city.
Outside of every gate there was a hotel for needy people and passengers to stay.
Earlier than describing the significance of Lahore gates I illustrate the history of Lahore to take you back in past fine-looking era of Lahore city.

History of Lahore:



Lahore has been the capital of Punjab for nearly a thousand years, first from 1021 to 1186 under the Ghaznavi Dynasty, founded by Mahmud of Ghazni, then under Muhammad of Ghor, and then under the various sultans of Delhi. It reached its full glory under Mughal rule from 1524 to 1752. The third Mughal emperor, Akbar, held his court in Lahore for 14 years from 1584 to 1598. He built the massive Lahore Fort on the foundations of a previous fort and enclosed the city within a red brick wall boasting 12 gates. Jahangir and Shah Jahan (who was born in Lahore) extended the fort, built palaces and tombs, and laid out gardens. The last of great Mughals, Aurangzeb (1658-1707), gave Lahore its most famous monument the great Badshahi Mosque.
In the 18th and 19th centuries the Sikhs also had their capital at Lahore. When the British took over in 1849, they erected splendidly pompous Victorian public buildings in the style that has come to be called Mughal-Gothic.
Since Independence in 1947, Lahore has expanded rapidly as the capital of Punjab. It is the second largest city in the country and an important industrial center.
Lahore is rightly regarded as the cultural, architectural and artistic center of Pakistan; indeed, the city is so steeped in historical distinction that it would be possible to spend a lifetime studying it without learning everything that there is to learn.

GATES

There are 13 gates named after
Ø  Raushnai Gate
Ø  Bhatti Gate
Ø  Mori Gate
Ø  Lahori Gate
Ø  Shah-Alam Gate
Ø  Mochi Gate
Ø  Akbari Gate
Ø  Delhi Gate
Ø  Yakki Gate
Ø  Sheranwala Gate
Ø  Kashmiri Gate
Ø  Masti Gate
Ø  Taxali Gate

I am heading for an explanation of Gates of Lahore which are survived and they are six of all.



Bhatti Gate ::




This gate and its surrounding area is popular for food. It marks its entrance from the west side of the city.
It is named after the Bhattis, on ancient Rajput tribe, which invaded the quarters in old times. the most popular market here is the Hakiman wali bazar as the name suggests there are a number of Hakim shops here. A museum is also located near Bhatti gate, where there are a number of ancient remains of different old times.
Famous Data Darbar and Old house of famous poet and philosopher (Allama Mohammad Iqbal ) is also located in Bhatti gate. He used to live here when he was doing his graduation. An old school named Victorian school is also located here; it is given the name Victoria after the name of Queen Victoria. People of Bhatti gate are lively and they love to eat heavy and good food mainly Sri pai, halva puri and lasi. The favorite sport among the people here is wrestling. Famous wrestler Kala Maro also belongs to Bhatti gate.

Old view of the gate is…

 







Delhi Gate ::

It is named Delhi gate because in ancient times it was a very important gate because it was the only gate which connected Lahore to Delhi. A big cloth market is situated in Delhi gate. It is a big retail market of clothes. A variety of other shops are also located near the Delhi gate, known as " Chota bazar “.
The gate was built during the Mughal era. Although the gate suffered greatly in the 1947 riots, it has since been renovated and today is in its former glory.


Old view of the gate is…


 


 

Kashmiri Gate ::

The "Kashmiri Gate" is so named because it faces the direction of Kashmir. Inside the gate, there is a shopping area called "Kashmiri Bazaar" and a girls' college. This college, built upon an old haveli belonging to a shah, is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture.





Old view of the gate is…

 






Lohari Gate ::


 It is situated adjacent to the Bhatti gate and  it was built to keep enemies out. Although it is now surrounded by shops and stalls, it still has great architectural significance. In Urdu, loha means "iron," and the gate is named Lohari because many lohars (blacksmiths) workshops were based just outside this gate. There also is a large flower bazaar there, where flower of every specie is available.
A beautiful mosque names as Muslim Masjid is also located near this gate. Biggest optical market of Lahore is also located here. The tomb of Qutb-Ud-Din Aibak is also situated in Lahori gate, adjacent to Anarkali bazar.

                                                                                       
Old view of the gate is…








Roshnai Gate :: 


The "Roshnai Gate," also known as the "Gate of Lights,"


It is located between the Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque. As the gate was one of the main entrances into the city, it was constantly visited by Omerahs, courtiers, royal servants and retinues. In the evenings, the gate was lit up, hence its name. The gate was also referred to as the "Gate of Splendour." It is the only gate that is in good condition and still retains its original looks.
It is located between the Royal palace and citadel. There is a very famous gali / street commonly known as the shahi mahala. The name shahi has been given after the Shahi Qila.  Now-a-days people are making good use of gate as they have established a public call office under the gate.

Hazuri Bagh is a garden in Lahore, Pakistan, bounded by the Lahore Fort (east side), Badshahi Mosque (west side), the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh (north side) and the Roshnai Gate (south side). In the center stands the Hazuri bagh Bara Dari, built by Ranjit Singh.

 

Sheranwala Gate :: 

It is also known as "  Khiziri gate ",  the river in former times followed by the city walls and the ferry was near this part. The gate was, therefore, named as Khiziri after the name of Khizz Elias, the patron saint according to the Mohammedan belief.


The "Shairanwala Gate," also known as the "Gate of the Lions," was made by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After its completion, Singh placed two live lions (or Shers) in cages at the gate as a symbolic gesture to warn any invader.
Other Gates which are no longer exists.

 

Akbari Gate::

The "Akbari gate", the most beautiful gate of lahore. The "Akbari Gate" is named after the great Mughal emperor Akbar, who rebuilt the town and citadel. Close to this gate the Emperor also founded a market, which is named after him, "Akbari Mandi." (Akbari Market)
It is the biggest retail market of Lahore, in which food grains of all kinds are available.

Masti Gate::

Just behind the Lahore Fort is the entrance to the "Masti Gate," also known as the "Gate of Merriment". This area is dominated by wholesale shoe sellers who sell both traditional- and Western-style shoes. Located further down the street is one of the city's oldest Masjids, the Masjid of Mariyam Zamani Begum, named after the mother of Jahangir, Mariyam Zamani.

Mochi Gate::

The Mochi gate, the name is the corruption of the Moti, a pearl. It was called so after the name of Pandit Moti Ram, an officer of Akbar, who resided here at that time.
The most popular place of Mochi gate is the Lal Haveli. Mochi gate is known to be the " Heart of the Lahore city ". It is the biggest political place of Lahore and many political processions have taken place here.
The people of this area love to fly kites. It is a big market of dry fruits and fire works of every kind are available here. Rafiq Sweet House is the well-known sweet shop of the area. The owner of this shop started his business here with only one shop and now there are 12 branches of Rafiq Sweet House. Among the foods available here " Kabab's "  of this area are a real specialty.

Mori Gate::

This gate is the smallest of all the gates. It was used to sweep the city off from the litter and dirt.
It is known for its big fish market and surgical goods, that is the biggest surgical market of Lahore. Another specialty of this gate is furniture polish commonly known as " Lakh ". It is the best polish for wooden furniture and the one produced here is known for its quality. People of this gate love to fly kites and a big kite market is also located here. During the Basant season there is a tough competition among the shopkeepers about the quality and sale of kites.


Shah-Alam Gate::

The "Shah-Alami Gate" is named after one of the sons of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Shah Alam I. Before his death, the gate was called the "Bherwala Gate." During the 1947 independence riots, the gate was burned. Today only the name survives. One of Lahore's biggest commercial markets, "Shah Alam Market" or Shalmi as locals call it, exists near the site of the gate.
The Soneri Masjid is also located in this area, the name soneri has been given to the Mosque as the tombs of this beautiful mosque are Golden ( soneri) in color. Lal Masjid is also located in this area. The 'Kulfis' of this area are really delicious in taste and are very famous among the Lahoris. 'Potoras' of this area are well known for their taste and quality.

Taxali Gate::

The Taxali gate so called from the " Taxal ", or Royal mint, having being in its neighborhood during the period of the Mohammedan emperors.
There is a very famous shoe market located here known as Sheikupurian Bazar. There are a variety of foodstuffs available in and around this gate. In which most famous are Sri Pai of Fazal Din commonly known as " Phaja". Among sweet stores Taj Mehal and Shahbudin Halwi are famous.

Yakki Gate::


The Yakki gate, originally known as " Zaki Gate" , that being the name of a saint. Who, according to a tradition, fell fighting against the " Tataraies " who invaded Lahore. Zaki Pir  fought them with great courage and bravery . During the fight his head was cut off from his body at the gate but his body kept on fighting for some time, and at last fell in the quarter of the city closed by. One tomb of this great saint is build where his head fell and the other tomb is where his body fell.
There is school for blinds situated near Yakki Gate. There are a number of havelis located in and around the gate. A number of temples are also located in and around Yakki Gate.

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