Among the 14 gate in Delhi city today, only four have survived — Kashmere Gate, Delhi Gate, Ajmeri Gate, and Turkman Gate.
"The Gates of Delhi have long been underrepresented among the architectural and historical marvels of the city. History enthusiasts love them. The public imagination, however, has been captured by the more famous monuments and buildings appearing on many ready itineraries in travel magazines.
In April, tech giant Apple finally came to India. When it unveiled the artwork for the Delhi store, it was both a relief and surprise to find these pieces of Delhi’s history take centrestage'"...news18.com
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| damaged because of past wars, etc Gates of Delhi scroll.in |
Above image: Delhi Gate. The southern gate of the walled city of Delhi is known as the Delhi Gate......
The ancient and medieval gates of Delhi are critically important monuments that require dedicated protection for two primary reasons: their profound historical value and the ongoing challenge of their physical conservation in a modern city.
Historical Imperative:
Urban Timeline: These gates—including those of Shahjahanabad (Kashmiri, Ajmeri) and Sher Shah Suri's citadels (Lal Darwaza, Talaqi Darwaza)—are the physical autobiography of Delhi. They demarcate the boundaries of past imperial cities, allowing future generations to physically map the growth and political shifts of the metropolis.
Sites of Memory: They are crucial loci of historical memory. The Lahori Gate now embodies modern Indian sovereignty, while the bullet-scarred Kashmiri Gate serves as a stark memorial to the 1857 Rebellion. Preserving them is essential for maintaining a tangible link to these pivotal moments in national history.
Architectural Evolution: They showcase the stylistic evolution of Indo-Islamic architecture, blending Afghan, Mughal, and indigenous elements (like chhatris and jharokhas). Structures like the Lal Darwaza provide a unique look into the transitional architecture of the Suri dynasty.
Conservation Necessity:
Urban Stress: Many gates, such as the Ajmeri Gate and Turkman Gate, are now integral parts of bustling, high-traffic junctions, exposing them to constant urban pollution, vibration, and encroachment. This kinetic environment accelerates wear and decay.
Structural Integrity: Constructed centuries ago, these monuments are vulnerable to environmental stress, particularly heavy rainfall, which has led to structural collapse or damage in the past (as noted for the Sher Shah Suri Gate). Ongoing conservation efforts are required to reinforce their stone and brick fabric against modern conditions.
Preventing Obliteration: Without protection by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), these structures risk being marginalized or entirely absorbed by the rapid, continuous development of modern Delhi. Conservation ensures they remain prominent historical landmarks, contrasting the ancient imperial past with the modern flow of a dynamic capital.
In 1648, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan when he he moved the capital of the empire from Agra up north along the banks of the Yamuna river, he named this new capital after himself, Shahjahanabad; the city once boasted of massive fortification with 14 grand gateways. Thus in the 17th century, Delhi was surrounded by an imposing sturdy wall with 14 gates, 14 wickets, and small entrances. Presently some length of the wall in Daryaganj, Kashmere Gate and four gates, including Ajmeri Gate and Turkman Gate have survived through time and vagaries of climatic conditions .
Delhi Gate, built in 1638-39, was the biggest gateway in the south of Shahjahanabad. It presently stands at the Bahadur Shah Zafar—Jawaharlal Nehru Marg. All these gates have their own narratives steeped in history and together highlights Delhi’s rich cultural heritage.
