Lukochuri Darwaza

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Lukochuri Darwaza,Template:Efn (Template:Langx) is a historic Mughal-era gateway in Gaur, Malda, West Bengal, India. It is situated on north of Gumti Gate and southeast of the Qadam Rasul Mosque. Built around the 17th century, likely under Mughal prince Shah Shuja. This three-storeyed tripartite gate has a central four-pointed arch flanked on either side by arched entrances two storeys high, features brick architecture with grand arches and served as an entrance to the Gaur citadel.Template:Sfn Part of the ancient city’s ruins, the monument is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

History

Shah Shuja is believed to have constructed it in 1655, following the Mughal architectural style. However, some historians attribute its construction to Alauddin Husain Shah in 1522. It is also noted that Shah Shuja frequently visited his patron saint, Shah Niamatullah Wali, who lived in the Firuzpur (in Chapainawabganj) quarters in the southern part of the city of Lakhnauti. The structure likely shortened his travel and allowed him to pass through the city center, located toward the east and south of the gateway. It is also assumed that the Lukochuri Darwaza was designed specifically as an entrance to the Qadam Rasul Mosque.Template:Sfn

Architecture

The brick gateway, rectangular in shape, measures Template:Convert in length and Template:Convert in width. It stands three stories tall, featuring doorways on the first floor that mirror those below, with a flat roof above serving as a naqqar khana, used to announce the governor's arrival and departure from the citadel. The entire gate is crowned by kanjuras.Template:Sfn

Gallery

• General view of the gate
  General view of the gate
• The gate with three stories
  The gate with three stories
• Opposite side of the gate
  Opposite side of the gate

See also

• Gumti Darwaza
• Dakhil Darwaza
• Kotwali Gate

Bibliography

• The Islamic Heritage of Bengal{{#if:|, }. Unesco(1984). ISBN 978-92-3-102174-9