The Kashmiri Gate is a gate located in the National Capital Territory of India, Delhi. It was the area around the North gate of the Laal Quila, the Red Fort of Delhi. The gate is so named because it was at the start of a road that led to Kashmir. Kashmiri Gate was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
History of Kashmiri Gate
Kashmiri Gate or double gateway was built by Military Engineer Robert Smith in 1835. The royal processions of emperors and Queens used to pass through the gate on their trips to Kashmir. However, when the British came to this walled city they altered many of the structures. They used modern construction materials to strengthen the walls and gateways in order to make them immune to the attacks. In the process, they fortified Kashmiri gate in 1835 and made it a double gateway. Thus, the gate has double openings, one for entrance and the other as an exit. This feature is unheard in both Indo-Islamic as well as Turko-Afghani Architecture. This gate gained strategic importance during the `Mutiny` of 1857. The British used this entrance in order to prevent the mutineers from entering the city. One can see the holes made by cannon balls used by the British to recapture the city. The ruins of Mori Gate are only visible from the gaps in the walls, which flank the road leading to the railway line. This line was the most important railway line at the time of British as it connected Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi. This gate was demolished in 1867 in order to allow easy movement to traffic after the Mutiny.
Durga Puja in Kashmiri Gate
In early 1910, employees of the Government of India Press settled around Kashmiri Gate and it included a sizable Bengali community. The community organized Durga Puja with the association of Delhi Durga Puja Samiti in the same year. This puja is the oldest one in Delhi at present day.
Significance of Kashmiri Gate in Present Day
In the present day, it plays the role of an important road junction in Delhi. Red Fort, ISBT and Delhi Junction railway station are situated in its vicinity. It is also the surrounding locality in North Delhi and in the Old Delhi area.
Nearby Important Spots of Kashmiri Gate
There are certain important spots near Kashmiri Gate, which are:
Kashmere Gate Station: The Kashmere Gate station of the Delhi Metro lies on both the Red and Yellow Lines.
Old Delhi Railway Station: The Old Delhi Railway Station of Delhi is located here with two opposite sides with the names of Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk.
St. James` Church: St. James Church was commissioned by Colonel James Skinner. The church was designed by Major Robert Smith.
ISBT: ISBT (Maharana Pratap Inter-State Bus Terminus) is one of the biggest Inter State Bus Terminals in India. It operates bus services between Delhi and seven states which comprises of Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Visiting Information to Kashmiri Gate
Delhi Railway Station and Indira Gandhi International Airport are the nearest to this spot. National Highway 19 connects Delhi to other major cities of India.
