Lahore Fort’s Akbari Gate Set to Reopen to Public After Nearly Two Centuries

A historic gateway at Lahore Fort that has remained closed for roughly 200 years is being prepared to reopen to tourists and the general public in December, marking a notable moment for heritage tourism in the country’s cultural heartland.

The Akbari Gate, which dates back to the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, stands on the eastern side of the fort. It originally connected the Walled City to the royal complex and served as an entry point for residents, traders and royal delegations. According to Wajahat Ali Khan, Director Conservation, the gate was among the fort’s earliest structures, with later rulers expanding the complex westward and adding further entrances. The British administration closed the gate as part of its administrative policy and to assert its authority.

A restoration project launched in 2023 has since worked to bring back the gate’s original architectural character. The effort was carried out jointly by the Punjab Walled Cities and Heritage Areas Authority, the French Development Agency and Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan.

Conservation teams removed plaster layers added during the Sikh and British periods and uncovered historic frescoes beneath them, including depictions of Hindu deities. Special measures were taken to preserve the paintings. Project engineer Yasir Ali said the heavy wooden main gate had become jammed and misaligned after decades of disuse, and workers repaired it to restore its operation.

The project also added an access route and a slope to improve entry from the Rim Market side, while excavation in the courtyard revealed an old drainage system that was incorporated into the restoration work. Once open, the building’s ground floor is set to house a ticketing cabin, the first floor will host a gallery of historical photographs and documents, and a CCTV monitoring room is also planned.

The reopening is expected to strengthen Lahore’s heritage-tourism appeal and give visitors access to a Mughal-era entrance that has been out of public reach for generations.