13 Gates of Lahore

The 13 Gates of Lahore

The ones, who live in the city of Lahore or want to move there, should know about the history of the city. This city is divided into two distinct parts, the old Lahore and the new Lahore. There is one simple thing that distinguishes the two parts; the answer is the 13 gates of Lahore.

These 13 gates that stand far apart from one another, used to be joined together by a nine-meter high brick wall. Let’s tell you about these gates in a bit more detail, their importance, their location and much more.

Walled City of Lahore

walled city lahore

The city that was once protected by the 13 gates is called the walled city of Lahore. It was built to protect the residents of the city from the invaders and the pillages.

Present time, the wall has crumbled and cannot be seen anymore. There are some gates that can be seen, but there are some that have been lost to time. Some have decayed over time while some were destroyed during the rule of the British.

Many people have now started to look for house for sale in Lahore, mainly due to the rich history of the city.

13 Gates of Lahore

The 13 gates that protected the old city of Lahore, used to be:

  • Bhati Gate
  • Delhi Gate
  • Kashmiri Gate
  • Lohari Gate
  • Roshnai Gate
  • Sheranwala Gate
  • Akbari Gate
  • Masti Gate
  • Mochi Gate
  • Shan Alam Gate
  • Taxali Gate
  • Yakki Gate

Out of these 13 gates of Lahore, one can only see 6 of them still standing, while the other 7 are no longer visible. So that you are able to understand it better, we have divided the blog into two parts, first we will tell you about the 6 blogs that are still standing, the surviving gates and in the other part we will tell you the other seven gates that are now history.

Surviving Gates

If you visit the old city of Lahore, you can still see the following gates trying to protect the remains of the walled city:

Bhati Gate

At the time the gate was being made, there used to be a tribe that resided in the area, a Rajput tribe named the Bhati tribe. The gate served as an entryway to the western side of the walled city, however, it was demolished and rebuilt during the British Era.

The adjoining area is a well-known place in Lahore, mainly due to the fact that there are many restaurants in the area, serving appetizing foods. The area around the gate has many important historical sites that one must visit on their trip to the city. The museum Fakir Khana is also located within the vicinity of the gate, where if you know where to look you can find many historical remnants and artifacts there. You step into the Bazaar-e-Hakiman, a bazaar reserved for the hakims through the Bhati Gate.

The Bhati gate can also be associated with the Data Darbar, as the darbar is located right beside the gate. 

One more thing, if you enjoy listening to poetry and qawwali, you should definitely visit the place on a Thursday night.

Delhi Gate

The gate was built by the third Mughal emperor; the gate stands tall facing Delhi near the east side of Old Lahore. The gate was damaged due to the many riots during the time of independence; however it has been repaired since.

You can find a beautiful Shahi Hammam, the royal washroom, on the left as soon as you enter through the gate. The Shahi Hammam was built by Hakim Ilmuddin. Apart from this historical building, many other historical buildings can be seen within the vicinity of the gate that was built during the Mughal Era or the British Raj. The majestic Wazeer Khan Mosque is also located within the area. The tomb of Hazrat Meran Badshah is situated in the courtyard of the mosque. 

There are many havelies inside the gate that become the reason for attracting a huge number of tourists. One more thing, there is a huge cloth market circling the gate, here you can find recycled clothes at a very affordable price!

Kashmiri Gate

The reason why this gate is called the Kashmiri gate is that it faces the valley of Kashmir. The gate is situated adjacent to the Deli gate. 

As soon as you step into the narrow alleys of the old Kashmiri Bazaar, you will be taken back to the 17th century. Following a certain alley of this bazaar would lead you directly to the Wazeer Khan mosque. Azam Cloth, the biggest cloth market in Asia is situated near to the gate. 

Lohari Gate

There are two theories when it comes to understanding the name of the gate, one is similar to how the Kashmiri gate was named, the other is that it signifies the blacksmiths (lohar) sitting around the gate. 

The famous Muslim masjid is located near the gate, where you can find planty of flower shops as well. Anarkali, the most famous bazaar of Pakistan is right in front of the gate. Besides the bazaar you can also find the tomb of ‘Qutub-Ud-Din-Aibak’ in the vicinity of the Lohari gate.

The area also attracts a great deal of foodies, as there are many eateries located near the gate. Sheikh Chatara and Sweets, Mehar Basheer Halwae and Haji Sahab Nihari Walay are among the few names that are well known in the city of Lahore.

Roshani Gate

This specific gate is located between the Lahore fort, also known as the Shahi Qila and the Badshahi Mosque. Out of all the 13 gates of Lahore, it is the most unique one as it is the only one that is still in its original form, without any renovation.

The gate is named Roshnai, as the adjoining area lights up in the evening. 

Right beside the gate is the famous Hazuri Bagh that was built by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh to signify and celebrate capturing Koh-i-Noor. The locality around the gate is quite well known due to the Shahi Mohalla Bazaar.

Sheranwala Gate

The Sheranwala gate is also known as the Khizri Gate. The gate was named after the saint Ameer-Ul-Bahr, who was also known as the commander of water until Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured the city, now known as the city of gardens.

To protect the gate from invaders, the Maharaja had kept two lions, thus the gate started to be called Sheranwala Gate.

The alleyways leading inside the gate are narrow and bursting with various artifacts and things you require in your daily life.

As soon as you enter through the gate, you will find yourself transported back to the Mughal era, where you can see the life of the old Lahore.

Historical Gates

Out of the 13 gates of Lahore, 7 have been lost to history. Some were demolished; some were damaged during battles and riots while some simply decayed over time, due to lack of care and renovation.

The gates that can no longer be seen are:

  • Akbari Gate
  • Masti Gate
  • Mochi Gate
  • Mori Gate
  • Shan Alam Gate
  • Taxali Gate
  • Yakki Gate

This brings us to an end to our blog about the 13 gates of Lahore, the ones that are still standing, and the ones that have failed the test of time.

For more information related to topics about tourism, stay updated with JagahOnline blogs and follow us on Facebook. The Ultimate Guide To MTMIS Islamabad Vehicle Verification

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here