The historical Kashmere Gate in 1947, served as a refugee camp for people who had migrated from West Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province after hurried partition poorly organized by British Raj.
Above image:Entitled, "Cashmere Gate, Delhi, Punjab" taken by Samuel Bourne in the 1860s and showing extensive damage to the Kashmiri Gate
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| Kashmere Gate, en.wikipedia.org |
Above image:
Plaque at Kashmere Gate, (named by the British) commemorating the 14 September 1857 attack on it by British Army during
Indian Rebellion of 1857. 14 September 1857, In themorning Kashmiri Gate was the site of a significant British assault. The British Army destroyed the bridge and the left leaf of the gate using gunpowder this marked the beginning of the final assault on the rebels towards the end of the
Siege of Delh. Top image:
.Delhi Siege: Cannon-ball marks on the walls adjoining Kashmiri Gate. Kashmiri Gate was heavily bombarded by British artillery positions on the high Northern Ridge.
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siege of Delhi, 1857, Alamyi com
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Above image: The British used Kashmere Gate, located near
ISBT, to prevent mutineers from entering the city in 1857. During the siege of Delhi in 1857 the British stormed into the city of Delhi through Kashmere Gate.
Mori Gate was demolished in 1867 by the British. All that remains is a part of the gate’s wall Kashmiri gate also the only twin doorway in the Old City – renovated by
Major Robert Smith in 1835 and was one of the original 14 gates to the city. During the siege of Delhi in 1857 the British stormed into the city of Delhi through Kashmere Gate
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| Damage Kashmiri Gate old photo wikimedia Commons.org |
Kashmiri Gate, located in
Old Delhi, stands as a significant testament to the city’s turbulent history. Constructed by
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the mid-17th century, it served as the northern entrance to the walled city of
Shahjahanabad, named for the road leading toward Kashmir. The gate was strategically vital, leading directly toward the
Red Fort, and the surrounding area initially flourished with pleasure gardens and the residences of Mughal nobility, such as
Dara Shukoh’s palace. Its architectural significance lies in its grand, dual-arched design, built both for defense and to facilitate trade with the northern regions. Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan used this gate to go to Kashmir during his heyday.
The gate’s greatest historical importance stems from its role as the epicenter of the 1857 Indian Rebellion, or the First War of Indian Independence. On
September 14, 1857, the British forces made their final, bloody assault to recapture Delhi by blowing open the Kashmiri Gate with gunpowder. This act was pivotal in suppressing the revolt and decisively changing the course of Indian history. Visible battle scars, including cannon and bullet marks, still mark the stone walls, serving as a poignant memorial to the brutal conflict fought there. Following the British victory, the area around Kashmiri Gate became the de facto administrative and commercial center of colonial Delhi, a status it maintained until the British shifted the capital and began constructing
New Delhi in 1931.
Today, Kashmiri Gate remains a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). While preserving its historical integrity, the surrounding area has transformed into a major modern transportation hub. It is the site of the sprawling Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT), a massive
Metro station complex, and a vital road junction, connecting major routes across North Delhi. Once the fashionable heart of
British Delhi, the area now bustles with millions of commuters and vibrant commerce, making the historic structure a silent witness linking the imperial past with the continuous, kinetic flow of a modern metropolis. Despite the constant rush of traffic and the towering presence of modern infrastructure, the resilient stone structure endures, its bullet-pocked façade offering a stark contrast to the nearby glass and steel, ensuring its legacy is not forgotten by the many who pass through daily.
