Bhadkal Darwaja: Tall and Imposing
One of the tallest and imposing gates in the city, the massive partial called the Bhaddkal or Baharkul ‘Darwaza’ has majestic appeal. The Bhadkaldarwaza is the symbol of the victory of Malik Amber against the powerful Mughals in 1612A.D
An ingenious architect himself, Amber used the special technique of building a ribbed vault with an imported method, It is Roman engineers who are credited with the creation of the ‘groin vault’ as early as in the 3rd century A.D. The greatest loads in the groin vault are thrust into the four arches that comprise the sides, and the two side arches that run diagonally across them. If the capacity of these diagonals is increased to carry a load by means of ribs added to the vault, the remainder of the roof can be fashioned from stone webbing or other material much lighter in weight. A true stone skeleton is created.
This style was letter improvised over the years. The most important one is found in Gothic architecture which used ribbed vaults and pointed arches. The first of its kind was a Masjid in Spain built in 968 A.D. followed but Ottonian St. Michaels built in Germany between 1001 and 1030A.D. using barrel vaulting.
After the construction of the Bhadkal darwaza, the same technique was used in India fifteen years letter to create the world-famous Gol Gumbad at Bijapur. The Bhadkal darwaza is built in lime and basalt rock found in Deccan. On the first floor is the Naqarkhana where Naubat was played on important occasions or events. The first floor is entered through stairways fabricated on either side from outside. Three open arches ornament the upper floor on all four sides. Seven feet tower above offers a good view of the city.
The gate bears the special Malik Ambar mark of inverted lotus. The interior portion consists of a number of Mehraab probably for illumination purposes.
There is a marble plaster inscription outside the gate signed by Ghulam Ahmed Khan, the Taluqdar of the Nizam’s period, which highlights a part of the poetry written by Nausrati.
Nasrati was a court poet in Ali Adil Shah’s darbar. The poetry describes a battle between Manohar and a demon. The demon has a grotesque and ghostly appearance with large thrones on his tongue which reminded the poet of huge spikes on the door of Bhadkal Darwaza.
Bhadkal gate is also associated with the largest ‘Sawari’ or Alam of ‘Bade Chaand Sahab’ during the month of Moharam. This is traditional Sawari originating from the Nizam’s period. The Sawari is more popular as ‘Bhadkal-Ki-Sawari’
Bhadkal is the only witness of Aurangabad’s gradual metamorphosis from a small hamlet to the present expanded and developed industrial city. If properly protected by concerned Government bodies the Bhadkal Darwaza promises to witness more future decades.
