To Wonder & Wander

My hometown-Aurangabad,named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb,happens to be a very historic place.The city was founded in 1610 A.D. by Malik Amber, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah of Ahmednagar, on the site of the village called Khirki.

It was ravaged and burnt down in 1621 by the imperial troops under Shah Jahan. Fateh Khan, son of Malik Amber changed the name of Khirki to Fatehnagar.

In 1633, when Prince Aurangzeb was appointed the Viceroy of the Deccan for the second time, he made Fatehnagar his Capital and called it Aurangabad.

Also known as the ‘City of Gates’,it had 52 gates not a very long time ago.These gates served as points of revenue collection while entering the town and were also used for surveillance purpose.Out of 52 ,only 19/20 survive today..a few of them in a very dilapidated condition..

In my swiney vacation,i located 19 of these gates and photographed them.The hunt for the gates did not prove as difficult as i had expected it to be..wikipedia,wikimapia and one old map preserved by my mother(she is a history buff) were all that was needed..I took my best friend-Nehali along,and together,we rode in the old part of the city and completed our task.It was fun,exploring the parts of city i have rarely had reason to go into…not that it was very eye catching or anything..but the whole experience was satisfying..Navigating using a map,standing atop the ancient darwazas et al..

Plus,a history proff told me that Dargah gate,unlike others, is not among the medieval gates of Aurangabad..These 2 points need to be looked after.

Won’t keep you longer,here are the photographs:

1.Makai gate

2.Bhadkal Gate:This gate is the biggest gate of city. It was built by MalikAmbar. It was built in memory of victory against the Mughals in 1612.It is also known as victory gate.

3.Paithan Gate:The way to Paithan goes though this gate.Hence the name.

4.Barapulla Gate:

5.Mahmood Gate:

6.Naubat Darwaza:

7.Kille ark Gate i.e.Kaala Darwaza:

8.Rangeen Darwaza:

9.Subsidiary of Rangeen Darwaza:

10.Delhi Gate:Beyond this gate,lies the way to Delhi.

11.Roshan Gate:

12.Jaffar Gate:

13.Khaas Gate:Most dilapited among all..Didn’t fancy much clicking this picture..just a minute ago,a man had relieved himself at the gate..The gate has now become a garbage dumping place.

14.Katkat Gate/Islam Darwaza:

15.Khusro Gate:

16.Dargah Gate:I am not sure if it is one of the medieval gates..though it is listed on the maps…

17.ID?-

18.Id?

19.Id?:People call it Noor gate..its real name might be Buland Darwaza..I am not sure..