“Imagine a time when emperors rode elephants” I say as we approach the Hathi Gate. This imposing gateway stands not far from the Dargah of Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Today, we explore the story behind the Hathi Gate.
Hathi Gate, also known as the Elephant Gate, once led to Zafar Mahal. Mughal Emperor Akbar II built Zafar Mahal as a summer palace. His son, Bahadur Shah Zafar, reconstructed it later.
Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, used this palace in a few ways. It served as a hunting lodge. He also visited during the Phulwalon ki Sair festival. During this festival, florists honored him each year.
Bahadur Shah Zafar added the magnificent red sandstone Hathi Gate. Notice the curved Bengal roof. The three-storeyed gate features intricately carved windows. Arcades line the inside. Rooms flank the gateway. The interior resembles Chhatta Chowk of Red Fort.
The Hathi Gate stands in good condition. However, Zafar Mahal has changed. It has been converted into shops and houses. Now it is difficult to imagine its past as a Mughal summer palace.
Interestingly, there is another Delhi Gate in the Red Fort. It too, was once called Hathi Gate. This gate once featured stone elephants. According to historical records, these elephants stood on either side of the entrance arch. Maulvi Zafar Hasan noted their existence.
Aurangzeb likely ordered their demolition, disapproving of statues. Fragments of the original statues resurfaced in 1863. They were found buried in the Red Fort. Reconstructed elephant statues were set up in the Queen’s Park three years later.
The emperor used the Delhi Gate in Red Fort to travel to the Jama Masjid for prayer. Its design mirrors the Lahore Gate. It sits in the southwest corner of the Red Fort. Aurangzeb altered the fort’s defenses. He removed battlements and added earth to the wall tops. He also built barbicans in front of Lahore Gate and Delhi Gate.
Today, the Shahjahanabad Delhi Gate stands alone. It is fenced in. Some original stone decorations still exist. A homeless man once sheltered in its niches. You can see the layers of history etched into its stones if you look closely.
As we stand here at Hathi Gate, remember its layered past. It connects emperors, festivals, and architectural grandeur. It is a testament to Delhi’s enduring history.