Danish Ambassador to Pakistan, Jacob Linulf, along with his family, visited Delhi Gate, one of Lahore’s most iconic historical sites, as part of a cultural engagement tour, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.
According to the channel report, officials from the Walled City of Lahore Authority warmly received the ambassador and guided the family through a tour of key heritage locations, including the Shahi Hammam, Huqay Wali Gali, Usman ki Baithak, and the historic Wazir Khan Mosque.
Ambassador Linulf expressed his admiration for the historical and architectural richness of the area, calling Delhi Gate an important symbol of Lahore’s cultural identity.
“We are truly impressed by the beauty and legacy of this place. It’s a visit we’ll always remember,” said Ambassador Jacob Linulf.
Delhi Gate is one of the 12 historic gates of the Walled City of Lahore. Delhi Gate and the adjacent Shahi Hammam were restored in 2015 by the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan.
Delhi Gate has been restored and is now illuminated at night.
The Delhi Gate was originally built during the Mughal period and is now known as the Chitta Gate, about 100 metres west of the new Delhi Gate. The gate was named after Delhi since the gate opened east, in the general direction of that city. During the Mughal era, the gate served as the main gateway to Lahore, and its doors were shut every evening. The surrounding area includes several buildings of historical significance, including the 17th-century Wazir Khan Mosque, Shahi Hammam, and havelis. "The original 13 gates around the city of Lahore were built by the third Mughal emperor Akbar in the mid-1600s. These thirteen gates provided access to the city of Lahore, which was once enclosed within a thirty-foot-high fortified wall built by the same Mughal emperor. Delhi Gate also served as Union Council 27 (UC 27) in the Tehsil Ravi of Lahore City District.
The gate was once part of Lahore's city walls, which were torn down by the British after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The gate itself was also destroyed by the British but was reconstructed in the 19th century under the British Raj. Following the Partition of British India, the gate housed a girls' school. The gate is mentioned by Rudyard Kipling in his 1891 short story "The City of Dreadful Night". Lahore's famous Zamzama Gun was originally placed at Delhi Gate but was relocated by the British to a site in front of the Lahore Museum.
The gate is a two-storey structure with space for ten to twelve shops. The gate's rooftop can be accessed by a staircase. The gate opens up into a bazaar heading to the Wazir Khan Mosque and further leading to Shah Alam Market and Suha Bazaar. The famous spice market Akbari Mandi is also located next to Delhi Gate.