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The Masti Gate in Lahore in the era of Mughals in the Sub-continent. Image by
G mustafa –

Top 10 Unknown Facts about Masti Gate

Masti Gate was actually called Masjidi, which means mosque but the name got altered to Masti. It is one of the thirteen gates of the walled city of Lahore which were built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. It does not exist now as all the gates were demolished by the British and rebuilt again in the early 1900s.

It is even a mystery as to where it used to be however, around the construed area are numerous shops, markets, and residential areas. It is fact that its memorable history and is beloved by history lovers. Most of the people, school students, families, and delegates come here to view these historical gates and get to know the history behind them.

Instead of the gate, a comparatively small doorway was built but now it has also disappeared. It is located just behind the Lahore Fort, in Fort Road, Punjab, Pakistan.

1. A path used to link it with the Begum Shahi Mosque

Domes of Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum and at the background is Masti Gate. Image by Muhammad Ashar –

A steep path known as Masti Ghatti (slope) goes down to link it with the main road. The gate connected the Begum Shahi Mosque with the Akbari Gate of Lahore Fort.

The royal females of the fort would use that gate to go to the Mosque and in between, there was a garden. With the passage of time, the British made the road and after partition, the road disappeared, and then came the Rim Market.

Today the foundations and location of the gate are lost due to this market and the connection of Akbari Gate with Masti Gate and Mosque is also disconnected.

2. The sites inside the Masti Gate depict how harmonious various religions existed

Masti Gate. Image by Nadeem Abbas Mushtaq – Wikimedia

Inside the gate through the narrow streets opposite the Akbari Gate of the fort, there is a mosque, a gurdwara, a samadhi, and a temple. This is the real image of religious harmony.

Remains of the temple 鈥淗unnoman ka Mandir鈥� and 鈥淕urdwara Bhai Mani Singh鈥� are still seen which are very close to the mosque.

A little inside the gate through the shoe market we see the Janam Asthan of Guru Arjun Ram. He was the fourth of the ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 30 August 1574.

All these sites were well connected in the past and till now depict the harmony among the people living in those times. Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims lived united and also participated in each other鈥檚 religious ceremonies.

3. Inside the gate exists the biggest shoe market

Moti Bazaar. Image by the Walled City of Lahore Authority –

A little further inside the gate, there is the biggest shoe market named Moti Bazaar. This bazaar is a wholesale and retail market for all types of shoes. It can be claimed as the biggest shoe market in Pakistan.

It is operational as of eight in the morning. This market runs all through the night because its customers come from other cities during the night.

4. Inside the gate is a residential area of the blinds

Masti Gate in Lahore. Image by Tahir8088 –

An interesting thing near the Moti Bazaar is the residential area of the blinds. This is known as the 鈥淎niya di Katri鈥� (Punjabi language). There are more than ten blind families living inside this Katri now and it is an old settlement.

A very narrow path leads you to this Katri. These residents do not mind visits and are very hospitable. However, it is only courteous to ask before you call in!

5. Inside the Masti Gate, there is a great building called Chunna Mandi Haveli

Masti Gate. Image by The Walled City of. Lahore Authority –

Another remarkable feature inside this gate is the Chuna Mandi Haveli. It is part of the Havelis which is a significant group of historic buildings in the walled city.

The building is one of the largest Havelis inside the walled city of Lahore. From its sprawling courtyards to its royal baths and from its arched hallways to its zenana gardens, the building is breathtakingly beautiful.

Instead of being kept under lock and key, it is being utilized as a college, Government Fatima Jinnah College for Women, and every corner has been put to constructive use.

6. The gate has turned into a commercial hub

Moti Bazaar. Image by Khalid G A –

Inside the gate is also the temple converted into a residential area now. So much of its originality has been lost. The monuments inside this gate need to be conserved and the temple should be restored for the tourists.

This gate has lost most of the residential units which were turned into a commercial hub. It is paramount that the authenticity is conserved for both locals and tourists.

This gate is one of the important gates of the city because when the Mughals traveled to Lahore Fort they came through Delhi Gate and from Masti Gate they entered the Fort from Akbari Gate, which was the original entrance to Fort.

7. The Masti Gate was destroyed during the British period due to its deteriorated condition

The Masti Gate was brought down by the British due to its deteriorating condition. A small doorway was built. Now neither the gate nor the doorway exists. A steep path known as Masti Ghatti (slope) goes down to link it with the main road.

Just opposite the Masti Gate and the thick rim market is the grand entrance to the Lahore Fort 鈥淎kbari Gate鈥�. This gate was once the main entrance to the Lahore Fort and was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

8. It is renowned for its best quality food

A man working on his food stall in Lahore. Photo by Shazaf Zafar on

At every nook and corner, you will find a tea stall and local foods which are no doubt appetizing. Local drinks like lassi, green tea, Kashmiri tea, pathoora, special types of naan, and roti are famous food items.

The wonderful “Rabri Milk” is also available here. It tastes like ambrosia as the concoction has cream, almonds, pistachios, vermicelli, and cardamoms added to the milk.

There are also functional Akharas (wrestling arenas) inside this gate. This is a local wrestling arena that is now hardly seen inside the walled city.

9. The community in the Masti Gate may be poor, but is rich at heart

Masti Gate. Image by the Walled City of Lahore Authority –

Life inside the walled city and this gate are extraordinarily appealing. If one observes it deeply, it鈥檚 entirely contradictory to that of modern Lahore. The community is convivial and hospitable. If you are passing by a residential area you will surely be offered a cup of tea or lassi which is a local drink.

Though the residents are poor, they are rich at heart and would offer you whatever they can, as per the Lahori culture. They are like a family, and everyone is close to each other. They may have had difficulties but have a deep love for their land and place.

10. It has interesting tales about how it came about

Masti gate. Image by the Walled City of Lahore Authority –

This gate, like a few other gates, has a variety of interesting traditions about its name. Some historians claim that it was named after a royal guard Masti Baloch who served with great dedication and commitment at the gate. Being dutiful, he guarded the gate till his last breath, and thus appreciating his services, the gate was named after him.

Another story associated with it says that the original name of the gate was 鈥楳asiti鈥� or 鈥楳asjidi鈥� Gate, which means mosque, which was distorted to Masti Gate. A few yards ahead of this gate鈥檚 location is the magnificent 鈥淏egum Shahi or Mariam Zamani Mosque鈥� which is the oldest and first mosque of the Mughal era.