Lehripura Gate

Situated in the midst of noisy and colorful bustling markets, the Lehripura Darwaja, is the most ornamented gate out of the four gates of the old city. Built in 1558, it served as the gateway to the old city and is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Nyay Mandir. It was the part of the western ramparts of the now extinct fort known as Kila-e-Daulatabad, built by Khalil Khan in the 16th century. The gate is named Lehripura Darwaja after the community of coppersmiths residing in the area who were known as the Laharis. The word Laheri in Leheripura is a varient of the original word Lahari.

The Gateway, Older Version :

The gateway has undergone major changes at least twice until now. This gateway was also like the other three gateways , simple and austere except for a few decorative elements. It was first majorly modified in 1879 on the occasion of marriage of Maharaja Saiyajirao Gaekwad III to Maharani Chimnabai I. The description given below is of the gate after the modifications of 1879.

As proven by the older photograph, the gateway along with its appearance was modified along the years. The older structure had three gateway openings with a large central one and two smaller ones flanking it on the sides.The central portion was huge Islamic arched gateway while the two smaller ones had, four centered tudor style arches. While the central portion of the gate is almost same as it is now, it was originally decorated with beautiful paintings of lotus/mandala inspired motifs and other paintings. The spandrils of all the 3, arched gateways used to be decorated with beautiful stucco work which is now extinct.

The older structure was modified sometime after 1890, probably to accommodate the increasing traffic of the expanding city.

The Gateway, Current Version :

The current structure also has 3 gateway openings, but unlike the old one, all 3 of these openings are huge in size. The two other openings of the structure that flank the central arched opening and are decorated with cusped arches. Both the ends of the structure are defined by tower like elements topped with small cupolas.

The front side : The central portion of the gateway has pretty much remained the same and has not been changed except for the missing paintings and stucco work. This central portion above the arched gateway, is topped with a walled space which is embellished with a big “jharokha”  in the center and two small ones on either side of it. It was in this walled space, that “shehnai” was played by artists on important occasions, during the reign of the Gaekwads. This walled space is covered with a central bengali style sloping roof (seen in the Lukshmi Vilas palace as well as its main gate) adorned with a row of finials along the pitch line, while the top of the small jharokhas is covered using a shikhar like element flanked by small domes/cupolas.

The back side : The only difference seen between the front and back side of the gateway is seen in the walled space above the central opening of the gateway.The back portion of the walled space shows a row of five arches, along with parapet having a pattern formed by small openings.

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It is said that under its august facade, the British and the Arab soldiers of the Gaekwad fought a bloody battle in 1802.

Still standing gloriously in midst of the city and unlike it’s disappeared companion, the fort wall, this gateway along with the other three gateways still remind the people of the city of it’s Pre-Gaekwadi past.