Worn down, but not out. That’s the vibe Kashmiri Gate gives off.
Kashmiri Gate stands as a historic gate in Old Delhi. It was the northern entrance to Shahjahanabad, the Mughal capital. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built it in the mid-17th century. The gate got its name because the road from here led to Kashmir.
Kashmiri Gate is more than just an old structure. It’s a landmark that connects major roads. It’s a hub for Delhi’s transportation network.
In 1803, the British arrived. They found Shahjahanabad’s walls in bad shape. Yashwantrao Holkar of the Maratha Confederacy had laid siege in 1804. So, the British reinforced the city’s walls. They built homes in the Kashmiri Gate area. Mughal palaces and nobles once lived here.
The Mutiny of 1857 brought Kashmiri Gate into national focus. Rebel soldiers fired cannons at the British from the gate. They used the area to plan their fight. The gate became a symbol of Indian resistance.
The British used Kashmiri Gate to keep mutineers out. But their efforts failed. Cannonball damage to the walls proves the British assaults. On September 14, 1857, the British attacked Kashmiri Gate. They destroyed the bridge and gate using gunpowder. This began the final assault on the rebels.
After the rebellion, the British moved to Civil Lines. Kashmiri Gate became Delhi’s fashion and commercial center. This lasted until New Delhi was created in 1931. In 1965, part of the gate was torn down for traffic. Today, the Archaeological Survey of India protects Kashmiri Gate.
Around 1910, government employees settled near Kashmiri Gate. A large Bengali community was among them. In 1910, they started the Delhi Durga Puja Samiti. It’s now the oldest Durga Puja celebration in Delhi.
The building near Kashmiri Gate now holds the Delhi State Election Commission. From 1891 to 1941, St. Stephen’s College was located here. During the 1947 Partition, Kashmiri Gate became a refugee camp. People from West Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province stayed here.
Believe it or not, between 2016 and 2017, Kashmiri Gate was listed as a notorious market for counterfeit auto parts.
Close by, St. James Church, or Skinner’s Church, stands. Colonel James Skinner commissioned it. He was an Anglo-Indian officer who founded Skinner’s Horse. The church was built between 1826 and 1836.
The Maharana Pratap Inter-state Bus Terminus, or ISBT, is near Kashmiri Gate. It’s the oldest and largest bus terminal in India. Buses run between Delhi and seven states from here. It opened in 1976.
The Kashmere Gate station is where three Delhi Metro lines meet. It’s the only trijunction in the network.
Did you know Dara Shikoh, Emperor Aurangzeb’s brother, had a library here? The Archaeological Survey of India runs it now as a museum.
Also nearby are the Mutiny Memorial, Magazine Gateways, and Telegraph Memorial. They commemorate the 1857 rebellion. Nicholson Cemetery is named after Brigadier General John Nicholson. He fought in the 1857 Mutiny.
Madrasa Aminia, established in 1897, is one of the oldest Islamic institutions in Kashmiri Gate.
Kashmiri Gate has witnessed royal processions, fierce battles, and waves of change. Its damaged walls whisper tales of a bygone era. It serves as a reminder of Delhi’s layered past.