Lukochuri Darwaza

Lukochuri Darwaza
Lukochuri Darwaza
লুকোচুরি দরওয়াজা
	Façade of the gate in 2018
	Location within West Bengal
General information
Type	Gate
Architectural style	Mughal Architecture
Location	Gauda, Malda, West Bengal
Country	India
Coordinates	24°52′07″N 88°07′55″E / 24.868547°N 88.132011°E
Completed	1655; 370 years ago
Governing body	Archaeology of India
Technical details
Material	Brick
Size	255.42 m²
Monument of National Importance
Official name	Lukachori Darwaza
Reference no.	N-WB-93

Lukochuri Darwaza,^[a] (Bengali: লুকোচুরি দরওয়াজা, lit. 'Hide and Seek Gate,') 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.^[1] Part of the ancient city’s ruins, the monument is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[4] It is also assumed that the Lukochuri Darwaza was designed specifically as an entrance to the Qadam Rasul Mosque.^[1]

Architecture

The brick gateway, rectangular in shape, measures 19.80 m (65.0 ft) in length and 12.90 m (42.3 ft) 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.^[4] The entire gate is crowned by kanjuras.^[1]