Kathi Darwaza - Historic Mughal Gateway in Srinagar

Kathi Darwaza was constructed around 1597 AD under the patronage of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Its creation was part of a larger project to build a new capital called Nagar Nagar, enclosed by a massive rampart wall around Hari Parbat hill. While the city never fully materialized as planned, the wall and its main gateway, Kathi Darwaza, were completed. It served as the principal and ceremonial entrance to the fort. The name 'Kathi' is believed to be a corruption of 'kosh', meaning 'scabbard,' possibly referring to its shape. The gate has withstood centuries of political change and remains a testament to Mughal engineering in Kashmir.

Kathi Darwaza holds significant historical and architectural value as a fine example of provincial Mughal architecture in the Kashmir valley. Its Persian epigraph is a crucial historical record, documenting the gate's construction under Emperor Akbar. The gateway is culturally important as it provides access to Hari Parbat, a hill revered by multiple faiths, hosting the Sharika Devi Temple, Makhdoom Sahib Shrine, and Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi. It symbolizes the historical layering of Srinagar and stands as a key component of the city's old fortifications, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.