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| North Gate, or Talaqi Darwaza.newindianexpress .com |
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| North Gate, or Talaqi Darwaza. en.wikipedi.org. |
Above image : Talaqui Gate or Forbidden Gate, made of grey and red sandstone and carries stories about paranormal activities at night or earlymorning.rea=lated to purported eerie noises, The story goes that a certain king went out of this gate to fight a rebel and vowed he would never enter the city unless he vanquished the enemy. The king fell in battle, never returned and the gate remained closed till 1912 AD...........
The Talaqi Darwaza, famously known as the "Forbidden Gate," serves as the imposing northern entrance to the Purana Qila (Old Fort) complex in Delhi. While the fort's original construction began under Mughal Emperor Humayun in the 16th century, this specific gateway is largely attributed to the subsequent building efforts of the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri following his capture of the fort. Constructed primarily of robust red sandstone, the Darwaza is a monumental, double-storied structure that dramatically rises to an approximate height of 17 meters, designed to serve a crucial defensive and ceremonial function for the citadel.
Architecturally, the gate embodies a unique and compelling blend of early Mughal (or pre-Mughal) and indigenous Indian elements. Its towering façade is richly embellished, showcasing intricate detailing like inlaid white marble, fine stone carving, and prominent overhanging jharokhas (enclosed balconies) that are topped by elegant chhatris (pillared pavilions). A particularly rare and unique feature for the Islamic architecture of that era is a carved panel positioned above one of the upper windows, which boldly depicts a scene of a man locked in combat with a lion or leogryph, underscoring the fusion of decorative traditions.
The gate's evocative name, Talaqi Darwaza, is derived from compelling local folklore. Legend dictates that Sher Shah Suri sealed the gate, making a solemn decree that it should only be opened upon his triumphant return from a military campaign. Since the emperor never returned—having died in battle—the Talaqi Darwaza remained perpetually closed, thus cementing its title as the Forbidden Gate. Today, as part of the Archaeological Survey of India's protected Purana Qila, the imposing, silent monument continues to stand as a profound historical symbol, anchoring the northern perimeter of the ancient citadel and linking the Suri and early Mughal building eras.
