Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

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Bhadkal Gate, Aurangabad Bhadkal Gate.JPG
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]

Aurangabad, Maharashtra Metropolis in Maharashtra, India

Aurangabad is a city in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state in India. Aurangabad is also the administrative capital of the centrally situated Marathwada region. The city is an important industrial hub, as well as a tourism hub, and is surrounded by several historical monuments and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Ajanta and Ellora caves.

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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]

Bhadkal Gate

Bhadkal Gate is a structure in Aurangabad City in Maharashtra, India. This gate is the biggest in the city. It was built by Ahamadnagar's Murtaza Nizamshah's vajir Malik Ambar in memory of victory against the Mughals in 1612. It is also known as Victory Gate.

List of gates

  1. Delhi Gate
  2. Rangeen Darwaza
  3. Katkat Gate (Islam Darwaza)
  4. Roshan Gate or (Jalna Gate)
  5. Barapulla Gate
  6. Paithan Gate
  7. Khaas Gate
  8. Jaffar Gate
  9. Quil-e-Ark (Naubat Darwaza)
  10. Kaala gate
  11. Mahmud gate
  12. Begum Darwaza
  13. Makai Gate (Mecca Gate)
  14. Bhadkal gate
  15. Chhota Bhadkal gate
  16. Khizar darwaza or (Haathi Gate) or (Majnu Gate)
  17. Khooni darwaza
  18. Mir Adil Gate

Coordinates: 19°53′19.63″N75°20′36.37″E / 19.8887861°N 75.3434361°E / 19.8887861; 75.3434361

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

History

Aurangabad city walls

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

During Khan Jahan's second viceroyalty, Aurangzeb built a wall around 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.

Aurangzeb Sixth Mughal Emperor

Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad, commonly known by the sobriquet Aurangzeb or by his regnal title Alamgir, was the sixth Mughal emperor, who reigned for a period of 49 years from 1658 until his death in 1707. Widely considered to be the last effective Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb was also one of the most influential rulers of the 17th century and one of the most powerful and controversial emperors in both history of India and history of Islam.

Maratha Indian caste found predominantly in Maharashtra

The Maratha are an Indian caste, originally of Marathi-speaking peasant-warriors. They established the Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaj in 1674 and were the dominant power on the subcontinent for much of the following century before their downfall in 1818. They were champions of Hinduism in the face of the Islamic Mughal Empire.

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

The Deccan Sultanates were five Muslim dynasties that ruled several late medieval Indian kingdoms, namely Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar in south-western India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These kingdoms became independent during the break-up of the Bahmani Sultanate. They were noted for the destruction of temples and general economic misery. In 1490, Ahmadnagar declared independence, followed by Bijapur and Berar in the same year. Golkonda became independent in 1518 and Bidar in 1528.

Vizier high-ranking political advisor or minister

A vizier is a high-ranking political advisor or minister. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title wazir to a minister formerly called katib (secretary), who was at first merely a helper but afterwards became the representative and successor of the dapir of the Sassanian kings.

Malik Ambar Indian warrior

Malik Ambar was an Ethiopian military leader in the Deccan region of India.

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.

See also

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Mughal architecture

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Aurangabad district, Maharashtra District of Maharashtra in India

Aurangabad District, also called one of the 36 districts of Maharashtra state in western India. It is bordered by the districts of Nashik to the west, Jalgaon to the north, Jalna to the east, and Ahmednagar to the south. Aurangabad is the headquarters and principal city. The district covers an area of 10,100 km², out of which 37.55% is urban and the remainder is rural. Aurangabad district is a major tourism region in Marathwada.

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Bidar Fort hind

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Sufi saints of Aurangabad

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Neighborhoods of Aurangabad

When Aurangzeb made Aurangabad his capital, there were 54 suburbs which were walled in like the city itself, but the chief of these that were populated in the 19th century were Begampura and Aurang-pura.

Neher water system

Nahr water system provided clean water for the people of Aurangabad and its suburbs. It was created by Malik Ambar who founded the town under the name Khadki and was later expanded by Aurangzeb in order to facilitate the military activity that became prevalent under Mughal rule during the 17th century.

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Himayat Bagh is a 17th-century garden that now houses the Fruit Research Station and Nursery, which is a part of the Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth,Parbhani(Maharashtra). It is located near Delhi Gate in Rauza Bagh area of Aurangabad. It is a sprawling complex spread over 300 acres (1.2 km2), naturally green and in the olden days it was known as the Mughal Garden.

The Jama Masjid is a mosque built in 1612 AD, located near the Killa Arrak in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. It is historically significant because it was constructed in 1612 AD, very soon after the foundation of Aurangabad by Malik Amber in 1610 AD. The mosque was later extended by Aurangzeb(R.H) in the year 1692 AD, it is one of the oldest mosques of Aurangabad which is still in good condition.

Lahori Gate, Delhi building in India

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Tourism in Marathwada

Tourism in Marathwada refers to tourism in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state of India. Aurangabad city is a regional headquarter of Marathwada and tourism capital of Maharashtra state. Out of 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra, 2 of them are in Marathwada. Also there are 110 monuments in Marathwada which are protected by Government of Maharashtra and recognized by Archaeological Survey of India. Marathwada is also important region for Religious tourism, out of 12 Jyotirlingas of Hindu God Shiva, 3 are in Marathwada. Hazur Sahib Nanded is the second holiest place in Sikhism after Harminder Sahib of Amritsir. There are also sufi shrines in Marathwada, most famous among them is Turabul Haq Dargah at Parbhani where thousands of people of all religion visits dargah annually. Pathri in Parbhani district is birthplace of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Sai Baba Birth Temple in Pathri is one of major religious tourism place in Marathwada.

References

  1. Banerjee, Rajiv (12 April 2009). "History revisited at Aurangabad the 'city of gates' - The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. Dulari Qureshi (1 January 1999). Tourism Potential in Aurangabad: With Ajanta, Ellora, Daulatabad Fort. Bharatiya Kala Prakashan. ISBN   978-81-86050-44-6.

Gazetteer Of Aurangabad (1884)