Lucknow's 240-Year-Old Rumi Darwaza Restored to Glory by ASI

2024-07-15 06:23:44

Sporting a clean, crisp look with a pinkish tone, likely due to fresh plaster of ‘surkhi’, lime, and mortar, the iconic Rumi Darwaza — a renowned heritage structure in Lucknow's historic Old City — continues to captivate visitors.

An 80-feet-high testament to architectural brilliance from the bygone era, Rumi Darwaza was built in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh. It has recently reopened to the public after nearly two years of closure for essential maintenance and conservation work by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

“Rumi Darwaza has been restored. Almost 99 per cent of the entire restoration work has been completed after which the structure was made open for the public, keeping in mind Muharram (as the gate falls on the route of the traditional Muharram procession). It took us nearly one-and-a-half years and about Rs 50 lakh to restore the giant multi-storeyed gate,” Aftab Hussain, superintending archaeologist, Lucknow Circle, ASI, said.

However, ASI officials clarified that traffic movement through the gates would remain restricted. “Traffic will remain banned as it was before, with vehicles being diverted to the adjacent road. This arrangement has been approved by the district administration to ensure the safety and preservation of the historic Rumi Darwaza,” Hussain told News18.