Shahjahanabad: Ramparts and Gateways

Shahjahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi in 1638 and laid the foundation of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi.

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Shahjahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi in 1638 and laid the foundation of Shahjahanabad, the seventh city of Delhi. The transfer was completed in 1649.

The city, polygonal in plan was provided with houses in blocks, wide roads, mosques and also bazaars, among which Chandni Chowk, with a tree-shaded channel flowing in its centre, was one of the most enchanting markets in the contemporary East.


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With the Red Fort at its north-eastern base, the city was engirdled by rubble-built high walls strengthened by bastions, circular as well as square, and pierced by several gates.

 

Shahjahanabad


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Large portions of the city-walls of Shahjahanabad suffered damage later during the Mutiny (1857) and were rebuilt. Over some of it parts the wall has disappeared only in recent years, but substantial stretches of it still survive.

Of its main fourteen gates, apart from wicket- entrances, only some have escaped demolition. Among these are Ajmeri Gate on the south-west, Turkman Gate on the south, Kashmiri Gate on the north. And also the Nigambodh Gate on the northern and Delhi Gate on the south – east.


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These gates, square on plan, are pierced by high arched openings. Except the Nigambodh gate, which is low and the Kashmiri Gate, which also has lateral double openings, one for the entrance and the other for exit.

Author’s Note:

Writer has completed her masters (Specialization in medieval history) from Jamia Millia Islamia, department of history and culture.

Photo :- History of Indian Subcontinent


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Sufia Fatima

Writer has completed her masters (Specialization in medieval history) from Jamia Millia Islamia, department of history and culture.