Hathiya Paur Darwaza

The Hathi Pol gate, also known as Hathiya Paur Darwaza, is one of the most stunning and historical gates you will find in India. It is located on the southeast side of the magnificent Gwalior Fort and leads to the Man Mandir Palace. The gate is the last of a series of seven gates that were built to fortify the palace and keep it safe from enemies.

The Hathi Pol gate derives its name from a life-sized statue of an elephant (hathi) that once adorned the gate. The gate is built in stone and has cylindrical towers that are crowned with cupola domes. The towers are linked by carved parapets, which add to the beauty and grandeur of the gate.

The Gwalior Fort stands on a long, narrow, sheer-sided hill with the main entrance on the eastern side. To reach the summit of the rock, a long ramp leads up through six gates, and the Hathi Pol gate is the last of the series. It forms the principal entrance to the Man Mandir Palace, which was built by Man Singh and is considered one of the most remarkable Hindu palaces.

The palace is also known as Chit Mandir, or “Painted Palace,” for its exterior is decorated with ornamental friezes of bright blue, green, and yellow tiles. Traces of this can be seen around the gateway. The Hathiya Paur was built by Raja Man Singh (1486-1516 CE), and its name was derived from a life-size elephant statue that formerly stood immediately outside the gate. The statue depicted a mahout and the king himself, seated on the back of the elephant.

The statue was seen by Babur in 1525 during his visit to Gwalior, and he described it as the perfect resemblance of an elephant in his memoirs. This statue was also mentioned by Abul Fazl in 1596 CE. Finch, an English traveler during the reign of Jahangir, also noticed this image and described it as a curios colossal of an elephant in stone at the top gate. However, there is no reference to this statue in later records, which led Cunningham to suggest that it was probably appropriated by Muzafar Khan, who held this fortress from 1628 to 1647 CE.

In conclusion, the Hathi Pol gate is a magnificent and historical structure that adds to the beauty and grandeur of the Gwalior Fort. Its design, along with the life-sized statue of an elephant, makes it a must-visit for anyone touring the palace.