|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
The old Lahore was fortified by strong walls with 13 gates. It is not known properly who fortified Lahore first, but there are evidences that Mughal Emperor Akbar renovated them. British Ruller destroyed most of these walls and today after years of deterioration only their ruins can be found. A detailed map of the Walled City is as follows:
The walled city, also called Andron Shehr (interior city), is a
monument by itself, having a tightly-knit atmosphere constituted by the
multi-storied houses built over smaller areas, the monotony of which is
frequently broken by large havelies belonging to old families: virtually no
trees exist there, the lanes are narrow and sometimes only five feet wide and
present a complicated cul-de-sac that flow into wider street which terminate
into open areas with some sort of specialized market. The city is located over
mild slopes formed by its own debris shed during the course of centuries.
Originally it had twelve gates (with exception of Mori Gate), many were named
after the cities towards which they opened.
The streets were made narrow due to the fact that narrow streets prevent invaders to enter into the city on horses and elephants. The design is also such that the streets usually remain cool during warm sunny summers. The thirteen gates within the fortified walls are as follows:
 | The Raushnai Gate, or the "gate of light". This is between
the royal mosque and the citadels. Being the principal entrance from the fort
to the city, it was most frequented by the Omerahs, courtiers, royal servants,
and retinues; and as the quarters about here were profusely lighted up at
night, it was called the "gate of light" or "gate of splendour" |
| The Kashmiri Gate, so called because it faces the direction
of Kashmir. |
| The Masti Gate, the name is the corruption of "Masjidi," the
pertaining to a mosque. The mosque of Mariam Makani, mother of Akber, is in
its immediate vicinity. Hence its name. |
| The Khizri Gate. The river in former times flowed by the
city walls, and the ferry was near this spot. The gate was, therefore, named
Khizri, after the name of Khizr Elias, the patron saint, according to the
Mahomedan belief, of running waters and streams, and the discoverer of the
water of immortality. Ranjit Singh kept here two domesticated lions in a cage,
and the gate came to be called "Sheranwala" or the " lions' gate". Peoole now
call it by both names, the " Khizri" and the "Sheranwalla" gateway. |
| The Yakki Gate. The original name was "Zaki," that being the
name of a martyr saint, who according to tradition, fell fighting against the
Moghal infidels from the north, while gallantly defending his city. His head
was cut off at the gate, but the trunk continued fighting for some time, and
at last fell in a quarter of the city close by. One tomb of this champion was
consequently built at the spot where the head had fallen, and another at the
place where the trunk lay. Both are revered by the faithful to this clay. |
| The Dehli Gate, so called from its opening on to the high
road from Lahore to Delhi. |
| The Akbari Gate, named after Mahomed Jala-ud-din Akbar, who
rebuilt the town and citadel. Close to this gate the Emperor also founded a
market, which, after his name, is called "Akbari Mandi". |
| The Mochi Gate. The name is the corruption of Moti, a pearl.
It was called so after the name of Moti Ram, an officer of Akbar, who resided
here at that time. |
| The Shah Almi Gate, named after Mohomed Mo'azzam Shah 'Alam
Bahadur Shah (the son and successor of Aurangzeb), a mild and munificent
Emperor, who died at Lahore on the 28th February 1712. |
| The Lahori Gate, called also the Lohari gate. The gate was
named after the city of Lahore. It is said that when Malik Ayaz rebuilt the
town, in the time of Mahmud, the quarter of the city first populated was about
this gate, which, together with the Lahori Mandi, or the Lahore market, was
named after the city. |
| The Mori Gate is the smallest of the gateway, and as its
name implies, was in old times used as an outlet for the refuse and sweepings
of the city. |
| The Bhatti Gate, named after the Bhatis, an ancient Rajput
tribe who inhabited these quarters in old times. |
| The Taxali Gate, so called from the Taxal, or royal mint, having been in its neighbourhood dur ing the period of the Mahomedan Emperors. |
Further important sites of Walled City are:
Rang mahal to Bhatti gate:
| Rang Mahal |
| Paani wala talab |
| Khaai |
| Shahi mahala |
| Bazaar-e-hakima |
| Uuchi masjid |
| Bhatti gate. |
Rang Mahal to Lohari gate:
| Suha bazaar |
| Chata Bazaar |
| Gumti bazaar |
| Sudaar mandi |
| Saiad Mitha |
| Chowk Jhanda |
| Neyabazzar chowk |
| Lohari gate. |
Rang Mahal to Delhi Gate:
| Sunnehri Masjid |
| Dabbi Bazaar |
| Chowk Wazir Khan |
| Mochi Darwaza |
| Dehli gate |
Rang Mahal to Sheranwalla gate:
| Sunnehri Masjid |
| DabbiBazaar |
| Chowk Wazir Khan |
| Safaid Gate |
| Delhi Gate |
| Sheranwalla Gate
|
