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The Alamgiri Gate of Lahaore Fort. By Azhar

Top 10 Interesting Facts about  Alamgiri Gate

Located at the western end of the fort, the Alamgiri Gate is the entrance of the Lahore Fort in Pakistan.The Alamgiri Darwaza, or Alamgiri Gate, was built under the patronage of Awrangzib (1658-1707).

It is situated on the eastern edge of the Lahore Fort, and leads by way of a sharply angled passage, to the large courtyard of the Diwan-i-Amm, the most public area of the fort’s administrative areas.

The gate is characterized by what some have called a ‘softening’ of the Mughal style in its later years: the fluted towers flanking it rise out of carved lotus buds, and are topped by small kiosks. 

Here are some interesting facts about Almgiri gate;

1. Alamgiri gate is a UNESCO Heritage site

Lahore Fort and Alamgiri gate were enlisted as World Heritage Sites in 1981 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).

The Lahore Fort houses three museums, the Mughal Museum, the Armoury Gallery, and the Sikh Museum, each containing a series of interesting exhibits.

Presently the administrative control of Lahore fort lies with Punjab Government, under the Archaeology and Tourism Department of Punjab.

A reasonable amount was allocated by Punjab Government in the year 2005-6, for the restoration and conservation of these two monuments.

2. Almgiri gate was built by Mughal Emperor

Located at the western end of the fort, the Alamgiri Gate is the entrance of the Lahore Fort. It was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1674.

The gate has two semi-circular bastions where the lotus petal design adorns its base. It opens to the Hazuri Bagh and faces the Badshahi Mosque.

The gate is one of Lahore’s most iconic monuments, and once featured on Pakistani currency.

3. The Gate was designed to allow emperors’ Caravan to pass through

The entrance to the fort is the Alamgiri Gate built by Aurangzeb in 1674 as a private entrance to the royal quarters.

It was large enough to allow several elephants carrying members of the royal household to enter at one time.

The small Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was built by Shah Jahan in 1644 for the private use of the ladies of the royal household and was restored to its original delicacy in 1904.

4. Alamgiri Gate connects the administrative section of Lahore Fort

The fort has two distinct sections: the ‘Private’, palatial section, and the administrative section, including areas for royal audiences.

The residential section is arranged in courts along the northern half of the fort. The more public, administrative section is organized in a layer that conceals the private one.

It is accessed from the Alamgiri Gate, built by Aurangzib (1658-1707), which leads into the large courtyard of the Diwan-i-Amm, or the hall of the public audience.

The Fort also contains gardens and a mosque, the white marble Moti Mosque by Shah Jahan. 

5. WCLA restored the Alamgiri gate after its destruction

The Walled City of Lahore Authority restored the Alamgiri Gate after its destruction at a cost of 7.32 million rupees.

During this process of conservation and restoration, the interior part of the Alamgiri Gate had been restored. The fresco of the main dome of Alamgiri Gate had been restored along with the structural strengthening of the gate’s building. The cement plaster had been removed which was done on it in the past.

Similarly, walls had also been strengthened and cleaned to erase graffiti. The flooring of the area inside the gate had been done.

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said that Alamgiri Gate was one of the important monuments inside the fort. “It needed much attention as it was neglected in the past. Our team has restored it technically.

6. The Almagiri Gate is a depiction of the Mughal architectural style

The Alamgiri Gate depicts Mughal architectural style. By Mohammad.Waris. khan

The Mughal architecture was the product of Indian, Islamic, Timurid, and even European styles.

The artists used these borrowed forms, in terms of symbolism and style, to fit in their own distinct style of architecture.

The style of construction has been depicted in the construction f Almagiri Gate. From an architectural point of view, therefore, Lahore gate (Almagiri) is essentially a Mughal city, its golden period being by and large the period of Mughal rule.

The Emperors added much to the city of Lahore, making it a beautiful and cultured city.

7. Shah Jahan contributed to the construction of the Gate

Shah Jahan reigned over the Mughal Empire from 1628 – following the death of Shah Jahan’s father, Jahangir.

His reign lasted 30 years until 1658, when Shah Jahan’s son, Aurangzeb gained power and made a declaration as the new Mughal emperor.

Shah Jahan showed an early interest in architecture and is affiliated with the construction of numerous gardens and buildings prior to his rule.

More notable projects in the early part of Shah Jahan’s reign include the Agra and Lahore forts among its monuments including The Almagiri Gate.

8. Almagiri gate is a tourist attraction site

Tourists paying a visit to Almagiri Gate. By Cehaiderali

There are many worth-visiting Mughal eras remains in Lahore. However, Lahore Fort in particular is a site where you get to see multiple historical structures in one place.

The two most famous historical places to visit in Lahore Fort are Sheesh Mahal and Alamgiri gate.

There are three small museums that showcase the weapons, armory, and other important tools used by people who lived at the time of the Mughal era. One of these museums also features the actual horse of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh that has been stuffed and preserved as a visitors’ attraction.

9. Alamgiri created residence for Emperor Ranjit Singh

Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire. By Sobha Singh

After the fall of the Mughal Empire, Lahore Fort which contains the Alamgiri gate was used as the residence of Emperor Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire.

The Sikhs made several additions to the fort. It then passed to the control of the East India Company after they annexed Punjab following their victory over the Sikhs at the Battle of Gujrat in February 1849.

In 1981, the fort was inscribed as a UNESCO  World Heritage Site for its “outstanding repertoire” of Mughal monuments dating from the era when the empire was at its artistic and aesthetic zenith.

10. Alamgiri opens into a Hazuri Bagh which faces Badshahi Mosque

Badshahi Mosque which is opposite Alamgiri gate. By Romero Maia.

Alamgiri Gate is one of the disciplined structures and it is a parameter of grace and dignity. The gate is located on the west end of the fort. This is a major entrance to the Lahore Fort. It was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the year 1674.

This beauty opens into a Hazuri Bagh which faces Badshahi Mosque. This entrance Alamgiri Gate is comprised of two semi-circular castles with a lotus petal-shaped design present at its base.

This Lahore monument is a historical sign and was also featured on the currency of Pakistan.