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Walled City Has thirteen gates.
LAHORE is a Municipal city, has been the capital of Punjab for nearly a thousand years, and the administrative head-quarters of a Division and District of the same name. It is situated one mile to the south of the river Ravi, and some 23 miles from the eastern border of the district. The city is built in the form of a parallelogram, the area within the walls, exclusive of the citadel, being about 461 acres. It stands on the alluvial plain traversed by the river Ravi. The city is slightly elevated above the plain, and has a high ridge within it, running east and west on its northern side. The whole of this elevated ground is composed of the accumulated debris of many centuries. The river, which makes a very circuitous bend from the East, passes in a semi-circle to the North of Lahore.
Lahore has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. It is a fine place to watch the world rush by. The improbable mix of painted trucks, cars, bullock carts, buses, handcarts, scooters with whole families. A classical city, according to the words of Nur Jahan.
"I have purchased Lahore with my life,By giving my life
for Lahore,Actually I have purchased another
Paradise," Empress Nur Jahan
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Thirteen Gates of Lahore
Ont the north side are:-
The Raushnai Gate, or the "gate of light". This is between the royal mosque and the citadels. Being the principal entrance from the fort to the city, it was most frequented by the Omerahs, courtiers, royal servants, and retinues; and as the quarters about here were profusely lighted up at night, it was called the "gate of light" , or, "gate of splendour".
The Kashmiri Gate, so called because it faces the direction of Kashmir.
The Masti Gate, the name is the corruption of "Masjidi," the pertaining to a mosque. The mosque of Mariam Makani, mother of Akber, is in its immediate vicinity. Hence its name.
The Khizri Gate. As already noted, the river in former times flowed by the city walls, and the ferry was near this spot. The gate was, therefore, named Khizri, after the name of Khizr Elias, the patron saint, according to the Mahomedan belief, of running waters and streams, and the discoverer of the water of immortality. Ranjit Singh kept here two domesticated lions in a cage, and the gate came to be called "Sheranwala" or the " lions' gate". Peoole now call it by both names, the " Khizri" and the "Sheranwalla" gateway.
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On the east side are:-
The Yakki Gate, The original name was "Zaki," that being the name of a martyr saint, who, according to tradition, fell fighting against the Moghal infidels from the north, while gallantly defending his city. His head was cut off at the gate, but the trunk continued fighting for some time, and at last fell in a quarter of the city close by. One tomb of this champion was consequently built at the spot where the head had fallen, and another at the place where the trunk lay. Both are revered by the faithful to this clay.
The Dehli Gate so-called from its opening on to the high road from Lahore to Dehli. This gate being a prominent one has witnessed a lot of incidents. It is present in its renovated form and is still a flourishing place. Many a historical places such as Shahi Hamam, Chitta Darvaza, Masjid Wazir Khan and a number of old havalies are situated inside this gate.
The Akbari Gate, named after Mahomed Jala-ud-din Akbar, who rebuilt the town and citadel. Close to this gate the Emperor also founded a market, which, after his name, is called "Akbari Mandi".
The name Masti Gate is a corruption of 'MASJADI GATE' reffering to the mosque of Mariam Makani, mother of Akbar, situated in itsimmediate vicinity. A little trace of this gate in its renovated form can still be seen.
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On the south side:-
The Mochi Gate. The name is the corruption of Moti, a pearl. It was called so after the name of Moti Ram, an officer of Akbar, who resided here at that time..At the former site of the gate, a prominent grave of a learned saint can still be seen. In olden times, this grave was in one of the cubicals of the gate.
The Shah 'Almi Gate, named after Mohomed Mo'azzam Shah 'Alam Bahadur Shah (the son and successor of Aurangzeb), a mild and munificent Emperor, who died at Lahore on the 28th February 1712.He was the most popular in Punjab and one of the SHAH AALMI Gate was called after him. This gate was formerly called after him. This gate was formmerly called the BHERWALA GATE. During the partition riots in 1947, this gate was burnt to ashes, only the name remains.
The Lahori Gate is named after the city of Lahore. It is said that when Malik Ayaz rebuilt the town in the timeof Mahmood Ghaznavi, the quarters of the city was first populated about this gate. As Dehli Gate facesDehli and Kashmiri Gate faces Kashmir, so it is said that they derived their names from these environs. Present Ichra was the actual Lahore in Hindu Raj, so this gate faces in that direction, derives its name from the so-called Lahore. Maharaja Ranjit Singh who besieged Lahore with a large force, it was Muhkim Din Chaudary in connivence with the Raja, was the incharge of the Lahorei Gate, opened it secretly to the invader who took possession of the city.
This gate has - during the ascendency wars between the sikh nobles, sardar Hira Singh, son of Raja Dhiyan Singh, chief minister of Ranjit Singh was put to death and his head hung up for public view at this gate. This gateway still exists in its renovated form and is famous for being one of the main entrances of the city.
The Mori Gate is the smallest of the gateway, and as its name implies, was in old times used as an outlet for the refuse and sweepings of the city.
On the west side are:-
The Bhatti Gate, named after the Bhatis, an ancient Rajput tribe who inhabited these quarters in old times.
The Taxali Gate, so called from the Taxal, or royal mint, having been in its neighbourhood during the period of the Mahomedan Emperors.
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