Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

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Bhadkal Gate, Aurangabad

One of the things that made Aurangabad stand out from several other medieval cities in India was its 52 "gates", each of which had a local history or had individuals linked with it. Aurangabad is known as the "City of Gates".[1]

Out of the 52, only four main and nine subordinate gates have survived, the most famous, oldest and biggest of them being the Bhadkal Gate near the Naukhanda Palace of Nizams.[2]

History

Aurangabad city walls

When Aurangzeb made Aurangabad his capital, there were 54 suburbs which were walled in like the city itself, the chief of these were Begampura and Aurangpura.

During Khan Jahan's second viceroyalty, Aurangzeb built a wall round the city in 1682, to protect it from the incursions of the Marathas; and in 1696 he erected a similar fortified wall for Begumpura. The city wall is terraced, and is of solid masonry, but of no great height, being in many parts not more than fourteen feet. The battlements are loop-holed, and the merlins over the gateways and at certain places along the wall, are machicolated; while semi-circular bastions surmounted by towers, occur at each flanking angle, and at regular intervals along the works. The wall is pierced with thirteen gateways, exclusive of a small postern wicket, and its total length is a little over six miles. All gates barring one are associated with Aurangzeb.

The four principal entrances face the cardinal points, and consist of the Delhi gate on the north, the Jalna gate on the east, the Paithan gate on the south, and the Mecca gate on the west.

Besides these, there are the Jaffar, Khirki, Barapul, Mahmud and Roshan gates; as well as four others, now closed, the Khizri, Khadgar, Mada, and Kumhar. The Barapul had also been walled up for some time.

Bhadkal Gate

Bhadkal Gate is a building in Aurangabad City, India. This gate is the biggest gate of city. It was built by Ahmadnagar's, Murtaza Nizamshah's Vazir Malik Ambar. It was built in memory of victory against Mughal in 1612. It is also known as victory gate. Bhadkal Gate has unique architectural style. It is India's first column structural Building.

Delhi Gate

The largest and the most stately, it was built by Aurangzeb. It is situated to the north of the city facing Delhi. It is similar to Lahore gate of Delhi’s Lal Quila (Red Fort).

Paithan Gate

The gate is smaller in size and was royal gateway leading to Paithan town. This gate is smaller in size compared to other gates.

Mecca or Makai Gate

This gate leads to Begumpura another walled quarter of the city, and is the only gate that has a canon installed on it. It faces the holy city of Mecca towards the west.

Khas or Jalna Gate

The gate is simple in design but was disintegrating. It has been restored recently. It faces the Jalna city in the east.

Kaala Darwaza

This gate leads to the palace fort of Qila–e-Ark. The palace had its own fortification walls and had five gates other than the Kaala darwaza all gates are in ruins.

Roshan Gate

This gate is located to the north of Jalna gate or Khas gate. It is bigger in size and stature as compared to Jalna gate. Roshan gate is said to have been named after Aurangezeb’s sister Roshanara to whom the emperor was much attached and she remained his favorite friend and advisor.

List of gates

Mecca Gate 1880s, Aurangabad
  1. Delhi Gate
  2. Rangeen Darwaza
  3. Katkat Gate (Islam Darwaza)
  4. Roshan Gate
  5. Barapulla Gate
  6. Paithan Gate
  7. Khas Gate or (Jalna Gate)
  8. Jaffar Gate
  9. Quil-e-Ark (Kaala Darwaza)
  10. Naubat gate
  11. Mahmud gate
  12. Buland darwaza
  13. Makai Gate (Mecca Gate)
  14. Bhadkal gate
  15. Khizar darwaza
  16. Khooni darwaza
  17. Noor darwaza(Baijipura)
  18. Dargah Gate

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Gallery

See also

References

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Gazetteer Of Aurangabad (1884)


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