THE ROYAL ENTRANCE OF LAHORE FORT
Let me take you inside the magnificent Lahore Fort through its original Akbar era’s entrance today. For a while imagine the majesty of Akbar’s entourage passing through Delhi Gate, crossing the Royal Trail. Visualize the people leaning over the balconies and jharokas to take a glimpse of their Emperor and Queen. While they seated on decorated elephants and showering flowers over them. And through the Royal Trail Akbar the Great enters into his splendid Fort through the giant and massive Akbari Gate!
What a mesmerizing scene it would have been! The enchanting entourage entering in this gate with the guards standing bowing their heads down for the Emperor. I wish I was there to see all the royal scenes of the bygone days.
So now let’s come to this imposing gate of the Royals, named after the third Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. He was the one who had re-built this fort with burnt bricks and added several mind blowing structures in it. Emperor Akbar was the one who added a fortified wall with thirteen gates around the city.
If you wish to see Akbari Gate, you drive on the circular road and turn towards the Masti Gate. A sign board is placed there. This gate is opposite to the ugly looking encroachments of the Rim Market. This gate, was once the main entrance to the Lahore Fort. Till now the stateliness of the gate can be seen in its ages old bricks and huge structure. The exterior of the gate shows aging and graffiti by the locals. This has damaged its beauty but the majesty of the gate is tolerating the cruel behavior of the people who do not value the heritage.
The gate is elevated from the ground level and an elephant can cross its wide wooden door. The wooden door and the structure is well intact till today. Unfortunately this gate is not opened for the public under the excuse of security. Many people are unaware of the fact that the gate has two storeys. There are chambers inside it which must have been used by the watch guards and other soldiers. The access to the upper storey of the gate is difficult as the stairs are a little derelict and dark. A grill has been placed on the staircase to close it for the public.
There are some interesting facts about this gate. The gate has a basement and it was known as Akbari Sarai (Akbar’s Rest House). It cannot be located now as it is buried under loads of debris and wild plantation. Only excavation of the area can reveal it. There is a small window like access to the basement. I am sure that there must be snakes and reptiles in the basement.
This gate of Lahore Fort was once connected with the Mariam Zamani Mosque. This Mosque was built by Emperor Jahangir for his mother. It is located opposite to it and unfortunately hidden behind the encroachments of Rim Market and Moti Bazaar. One standing at Akbari Gate can never imagine that there is a Mosque located opposite to it.
Historians say that there was a garden which connected this gate with the Mosque. The Mughals along with their entourage passed that stately garden to reach the Akbari Gate of Lahore Fort. So now you can imagine the splendor of the gone garden as well. With the passage of time the garden vanished and so did Masti Gate. A colony has been built inside the fort next to the gate which does affect the opulence of the gate.
If you enter this gate before you will be the grand view of the Deewan-e-Aam. This Deewan-e-Aam was the place where Akbar appeared before the public and his stately balcony which is still intact there. Around Akbari gate, you will hardly find any tourists. This is because it is one of the far away areas inside Fort. So people hardly go up to this part. The entrance to Fort was changed to Alamgiri Gate during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir. Unfortunately, this gate is also closed for the public.
Years ago, there were waist high shrubs around Akbari Gate but now the management has cleared it all. Some benches have been placed there for the tourists.
In my opinion anyone visiting Lahore Fort must visit this gate too. I hope it’s illuminated soon like the Alamgiri Gate of Lahore Fort.
Writer : Tania Qureshi (Historian, Writer, Heritage Analyst)
The writer can be reached on twitter.com/TaniaQureshi
