Hyderabad: As you enter the city through National Highway 44, the giant wooden gate at Puranapul junction immediately catches your attention. Many visitors are unaware of the rich history behind this 450-year-old gate. It is one of the 13 original entrances to Hyderabad.
Once, Hyderabad was a walled city. The six-mile-long wall had 13 gates and 13 smaller windows, known as khirkhis. These gates controlled entry and exit. Historians note that cities back then needed walls for protection, and thus, the long wall with gates was constructed.
The gates were: Puranapul Darwaza, Dabeerpura Darwaza, Aliabad Darwaza, Fateh Darwaza, Doodhbowli Darwaza, Lal Darwaza, Gowlipura Darwaza, Dilli Darwaza, Chaderghat Darwaza, Mir Jumla Darwaza, Yakutpura Darwaza, and Afzal Darwaza. Initially, there were 12 gates, but after the Nayapul Bridge was built, the Afzal Darwaza was added,” explained historian and INTACH member, B Anuradha Reddy.
Architecture and Preservation
The gates were constructed using iron and heavy wood. Today, two gates still stand at Dabeerpura and Puranapul Bridge. Over the years, authorities have made minor repairs. “The granite structures holding the gates were painted a few years ago,” said Mohd Imran, a local shopkeeper near Dabeerpura Darwaza.
In the past, armed guards stood watch around the clock. They closed the gates in the evening and opened them only in the morning. The gates remained closed unless there were funerals or emergencies.
For more information on Hyderabad’s historical landmarks, visit The Hans Bharat.
You can also explore the City Wall of Hyderabad in more detail on Wiki.
