Teen Darwazah - A historical gateway on the east of Bhadra Fort, which is trying to get heard in the noise of Old Town Markets

These days if you check out documentaries on Netflix about old town, cuisines, street food etc, Delhi is the city from India which is prominently covered but there is a lot more beyond the capital city of India to explore the heritage through old neighbourhoods and their preferences of food, which are still carried forward over the generations. When we were in Ahmedabad for Navaratri celebrations, we walked around the old town of the town. This Blogpost shares about Teen Darwaza in the middle of the old town and surrounded by hustle bustle of the markets.

These days if you check out documentaries on Netflix about old town, cuisines, street food etc, Delhi is the city from India which is prominently covered but there is a lot more beyond the capital city of India to explore the heritage through old neighbourhoods and their preferences of food, which are still carried forward over the generations. When we were in Ahmedabad for Navaratri celebrations, we walked around the old town of the town. This Blogpost shares about Teen Darwaza in the middle of the old town and surrounded by hustle bustle of the markets. 
Related Blogpost from Gujrat - Rani Ki Vav - The monument which is used in 100 Rupees note


Teen Darwaza is a historical gateway on the east of Bhadra Fort in Ahmedabad, Gujrat. This was completed in 1415 and associated with historical as well as legendary events in this part of India. The gates are featured in the logo of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, but may not be that acknowledged in context of tourism in Gujrat, while these kind of historical gems make many places special in India. How many countries have history and heritage like India and some of these small heritage spots are ignore in this abundance. So it's important to take a pause and appreciate these small heritage places as well. When we were crossing Teen Darwazah, we were extremely disappointed with upkeep of this place. Since it's in middle of the market, some of it's corners are used by shopkeepers to store stuff or urinate (yes, some part of Teen Darwazah stink very badly). Hope someone from Ahmedabad reads this and put some pressure on local authorities to maintain the place. Maratha governor Chimnaji Raghunath decreed and inscribed farman on Teen Darwaza in 1812 declaring equal right to women in inheritance of ancestral property. Raghunath had appealed to Hindu and Muslims both. There is a plaque engraved in Devnagari script and dated 10 October 1812 reads - "Let the daughter get her due share of fathers property without any hitch. So is Lord Vishwanath's command. If you defy, the Hindu will have to answer Mahadev and the Mussalman will have to explain to Allah or Rasool."


Teen Darwaza is a historical gateway on the east of Bhadra Fort in Ahmedabad, Gujrat. This was completed in 1415 and associated with historical as well as legendary events in this part of India. The gates are featured in the logo of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, but may not be that acknowledged in context of tourism in Gujrat, while these kind of historical gems make many places special in India. How many countries have history and heritage like India and some of these small heritage spots are ignore in this abundance. So it's important to take a pause and appreciate these small heritage places as well. 


When we were crossing Teen Darwazah, we were extremely disappointed with upkeep of this place. Since it's in middle of the market, some of it's corners are used by shopkeepers to store stuff or urinate (yes, some part of Teen Darwazah stink very badly). Hope someone from Ahmedabad reads this and put some pressure on local authorities to maintain the place. 


Maratha governor Chimnaji Raghunath decreed and inscribed farman on Teen Darwaza in 1812 declaring equal right to women in inheritance of ancestral property. Raghunath had appealed to Hindu and Muslims both. There is a plaque engraved in Devnagari script and dated 10 October 1812 reads - "Let the daughter get her due share of fathers property without any hitch. So is Lord Vishwanath's command. If you defy, the Hindu will have to answer Mahadev and the Mussalman will have to explain to Allah or Rasool."


Teen Darwazah was built by Ahmad Shah I immediately after the foundation of Ahmedabad and completed in 1415. The Teen Darwaza was an exit gate from Bhadra Fort on one of the sides. This gateway has three arches which led into a large enclosure, forming the outer courtyard of the palace called Maidan Shah in past, with a fountain and raised terrace in the centre. The roadway in the central opening is 17 feet wide, and that of each side arch is 13 feet wide. The height of the arches is 25 feet. The terrace on the top of the gateway was formerly roofed over. But in 1877 the gateway was repaired, and the terrace thrown open.


Teen Darwazah was built by Ahmad Shah I immediately after the foundation of Ahmedabad and completed in 1415.  The Teen Darwaza was an exit gate from Bhadra Fort on one of the sides. This gateway has three arches which led into a large enclosure, forming the outer courtyard of the palace called Maidan Shah in past, with a fountain and raised terrace in the centre. The roadway in the central opening is 17 feet wide, and that of each side arch is 13 feet wide. The height of the arches is 25 feet. The terrace on the top of the gateway was formerly roofed over. But in 1877 the gateway was repaired, and the terrace thrown open. 


There is a legend associated with Teen Darwazah and it goes like this - Years ago, Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth, came to the gate of the Bhadra Fort to leave the city in the night. Watchman Khwaja Siddique Kotwal stopped her and identified her. He asked her not to leave the fort until he obtained a permission from the king, Ahmad Shah. He went to the king and beheaded himself in order to keep Laxmi in the city. It resulted in the prosperity of the city. There is a tomb near Bhadra Gate of the fort dedicated to Siddique Kotwal and a temple to Bhadra Kali, representing Laxmi. A lamp in one of the niche of Teen Darwaza is burning there for more than six hundred years by a Muslim family in a dedication to the legend. This temple is very popular and full of people coming from different parts of the city, state and the country. Above photograph of Elephant is clicked outside the Bhadra Kali temple, where devotees bring something for this elephant eat and take blessings by crossing under the elephant. If you look at these monuments in Old Ahmedabad town, all are connected with one another in one or another. And if you go deeper, you will be able to appreciate the history and rich heritage of these places. This is another reason, I love joining morning walks organised by historians who tell you stories in best possible way and curate the walking route accordingly.


There is a legend associated with Teen Darwazah and it goes like this - Years ago, Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth, came to the gate of the Bhadra Fort to leave the city in the night. Watchman Khwaja Siddique Kotwal stopped her and identified her. He asked her not to leave the fort until he obtained a permission from the king, Ahmad Shah. He went to the king and beheaded himself in order to keep Laxmi in the city. It resulted in the prosperity of the city.


There is a tomb near Bhadra Gate of the fort dedicated to Siddique Kotwal and a temple to Bhadra Kali, representing Laxmi. A lamp in one of the niche of Teen Darwaza is burning there for more than six hundred years by a Muslim family in a dedication to the legend. This temple is very popular and full of people coming from different parts of the city, state and the country. Above photograph of Elephant is clicked outside the Bhadra Kali temple, where devotees bring something for this elephant eat and take blessings by crossing under the elephant. 


If you look at these monuments in Old Ahmedabad town, all are connected with one another in one or another. And if you go deeper, you will be able to appreciate the history and rich heritage of these places. This is another reason, I love joining morning walks organised by historians who tell you stories in best possible way and curate the walking route accordingly. 

Related Blogpost - Sardar Sarovar Dam - Another stunning sight worth visiting around Statue of Unity Area, Gujrat

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These days if you check out documentaries on Netflix about old town, cuisines, street food etc, Delhi is the city from India which is prominently covered but there is a lot more beyond the capital city of India to explore the heritage through old neighbourhoods and their preferences of food, which are still carried forward over the generations. When we were in Ahmedabad for Navaratri celebrations, we walked around the old town of the town. This Blogpost shares about Teen Darwaza in the middle of the old town and surrounded by hustle bustle of the markets.Teen Darwazah - A historical gateway on the east of Bhadra Fort, which is trying to get heard in the noise of Old Town Markets

























































































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