DenicePitcairn at 03:17, 22 April 2026

2026-04-22T03:17:38Z

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{{Short description|Monument in Gaur, West Bengal}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Dakhil Darwaza
| native_name = দাখিল দরওয়াজা
| native_name_lang = bn
| image = Dakhil or SALAMI Darwaza 02.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Façade of the gate
| location = [[Gauḍa (city)|Gauda]], [[Malda District|Malda]], [[West Bengal]]
| location_country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|24.880397|N|88.124875|E|region:IN-WB_type:mosque|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| status =
| years_built =
| completion_date = {{start date and age|1425}}
| owner =
| embedded = {{Infobox historic site
| embed = yes
| designation1 = MANI
| designation1_offname = Dakhil Darwaza
| designation1_type =
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_date =
| delisted1_date =
| designation1_partof =
| designation1_number = N-WB-87
| designation1_free1name =
| designation1_free1value =
| designation1_free2name =
| designation1_free2value =
| designation1_free3name =
| designation1_free3value =
}}
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal
| building_type = [[Gate]]
| height = {{Convert|14.95|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| image_upright = 1.4
| pushpin_mapsize = 250px
| governing_body = [[Archaeology of India]]
| material = [[Brick]], [[Stone]]
| size = 2306.25 m²
}}

'''Dakhil Darwaza''', ({{Langx|bn|দাখিল দরওয়াজা|4=Main gate}}) also known as Salami Darwaza, is a grand 15th-16th century gateway located in [[Gauḍa (city)|Gaur]], [[Malda district]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]. It served as the main northern entrance to the citadel of [[Gauḍa (city)|Lakhnauti]], the capital of the [[Bengal Sultanate]]. Constructed primarily with red bricks and terracotta, often attributed to the [[Hussain Shahi dynasty]] ({{Circa|1494-1538}}), it exemplifies the Bengal style of architecture, blending Islamic and regional elements. The gateway, also called Salami Darwaza due to cannons fired from it as a salute,<ref name="maldagov">{{Cite web |title=Dakhil Darwaja |url=https://malda.gov.in/tourist-place/dakhil-darwaja/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Malda District |language=en-US}}</ref> remains a significant historical monument protected by the [[Archaeological Survey of India|Archeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Centrally Protected Monuments (ASI) |url=https://www.nma.gov.in/showfile.php?lang=1&level=1&ls_id=965&lid=1276&nma_type=0 |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=National Monument Authority}}</ref>

== History ==
Scholarly opinions on the Dakhil Darwaza's date and patron differ. It is assumed that the gate was built by Sultan [[Mahmud Shah of Bengal|Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah]] ({{Reign|1435|1459}}) in 1425 AD.<ref name="maldagov" /> Some attribute its construction to the early 15th century under the [[Ilyas Shahi dynasty#Restored dynasty|restored Ilyas Shahi dynasty]]. Others link it to a 1519 inscription crediting [[Nasiruddin Nasrat Shah|Nusrat Shah]] ({{Reign|1519|1533}}) of the Husain Shahi dynasty, suggesting it was built as a ceremonial gateway connecting the Gaur citadel to the [[Baro Shona Masjid|Baro Sona Mosque]] (1526), about one kilometer northeast.{{Sfn|Michell|1984|p=70}}

== Architecture ==
The gate is primarily constructed of [[brick]], with [[stone]] facing on the piers between the doorways up to the [[arch]] springs. The structure measures {{Convert|102.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and {{Convert|22.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} in width,{{Efn|According to Michell the width of the gate is 35m,{{Sfn|Michell|1984|p=70}} while Malda government website indicates 34.5.<ref name="maldagov" />}} featuring a central passage {{Convert|4.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide. Flanking the corridor are two guardrooms on each side, each measuring {{Convert|22.7|by|2.9|m|abbr=on}}. According to measurements by [[Alexander Cunningham]], the gateway reaches a height of approximately {{Convert|14.95|m|ft|abbr=on}}, with the main entrance arch rising to {{Convert|10.35|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Other measurements indicates the exterior {{Convert|18.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} high.{{Sfn|Michell|1984|p=70}} A smaller archway behind the wider arch leads to the vaulted passage. The architecture of Dakhil Darwaza resembles [[Baro Shona Masjid|Baro Sona Mosque]], [[Choto Sona Mosque]] and [[Adina Mosque]].<ref name="bdpedia">{{Cite Banglapedia|last=Husain|first=ABM|article=Dakhil Darwaza|article-url=Dakhil_Darwaza}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="250">
File:Dakhil Darwaza 2, Malda.jpg|Side view of the gateway
File:Dakhil Darwaza 3, Malda.jpg|Corner turret
File:Dakhil Darwaja alias Salami Darwaja at Gaur 19.jpg|High point of the ruined corner turrets
File:Dakhil or SALAMI Darwaza 04.jpg|Inside of the gateway
File:Dakhil Darwaja alias Salami Darwaja at Gaur 16.jpg|Entrance arch
File:Dakhil Darwaja alias Salami Darwaja at Gaur 10.jpg|Side view of the gate
File:Oriental Scenery Fig 4.jpg|The doorway painted in 1795 AD
File:The Dakhil Gate, an aquatint by Henry Gordon Creighton, 1817.jpg|Dakhil Darwaza painted by Henry Gordon Creighton in 1817 AD
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Gumti Darwaza]]
* [[Kotwali Gate]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iiNUAAAAMAAJ |title=The Islamic Heritage of Bengal |date=1984 |publisher=Unesco |isbn=978-92-3-102174-9 |editor-last=Michell |editor-first=George |language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Dakhil Darwaza}}

[[Category:Gates in India]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Bengal Sultanate]]
[[Category:Islamic architecture in India]]
[[Category:Architecture of the Bengal Sultanate]]
[[Category:Malda district]]
[[Category:City gates]]

Dakhil Darwaza - Revision history

DenicePitcairn at 03:17, 22 April 2026