Truck stuck in Mandu’s historic gate:Traffic hit for 6 hours, wrong route due to GPS, pulled back with crane; wall damaged

A 50-foot-long container got stuck at the historic Alamgir Gate on the Mandu-Dhar road at around 9 am on Tuesday. It was removed with the help of a crane at about 3 pm. The wall attached to the gate was damaged due to the container. Traffic was disrupted on both sides, leaving vehicles travelling to and from Mandu stranded. Some buses dropped passengers near the gate and returned. After receiving information, Mandu Police ASI Dinesh Verma reached the spot with his team. A crowd of local people also gathered. The driver of the Gujarat-registered container (GJ 21 Y 6448), identified as Pintu, said the vehicle was loaded with goods for Dharampuri. He was not aware of the route and had reached the spot while following GPS. Police said the container stuck at Alamgir Gate was around 50 feet (15.24 metres) long. It was a high-cube container with a height of 9 feet 6 inches. The vehicle was carrying around 30 to 40 tonnes of goods. After the container got stuck, traffic in the area was diverted. See Pictures Vehicles longer than 20 feet cannot pass The design of Mandu’s ancient gates is such that vehicles longer than 20 feet cannot pass through them. Tourists and local vehicles exceeding 19 feet in length usually stop outside Alamgir Gate. From there, tourists use taxis or smaller vehicles to visit Mandu. Prashant Patankar, CA of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), said that for the past 26 years, they have written several letters to create an alternative route apart from these gates. However, no action has been taken so far. The road in the ghat area is narrow, and the width between the gates is also limited. Due to this, vehicles often collide with the gates. The vibration caused by vehicles is also weakening these structures. Container is 50 feet long, 9 feet 6 inches high The length of the stuck container is approximately 50 feet (15.24 meters). It is a high cube container. Its height is 9 feet 6 inches. The vehicle is loaded with 30-40 tons of material. The traffic jam has been ongoing for 5 hours. Also important from an architectural perspective Mandu is called the City of Joy. Its gateways here are witnesses to its glorious history. Alamgir Darwaza is one of the 12 main gates of Mandu, which is very important not only from a security perspective but also from an architectural perspective. This gate is named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who was given the title of Alamgir. Constructed during the time of Mandu’s Sultans It is believed that this gate was originally built during the time of the Sultans of Mandu, but it was renovated in 1668 AD during Aurangzeb’s visit to Mandu, after which it was named Alamgir Darwaza. Mandu is a city situated on a hill. Alamgir Darwaza is considered the first important gateway to enter Mandu. It was built in such a way that enemy armies or elephants could not directly rush inside. A blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture Its structure showcases a beautiful blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. It features pointed arches and strong stone pillars. Whenever a ruler or royal caravan entered Mandu, they would pass through this very route. The Alamgir Darwaza was considered the first wall of defense. Under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) This gate is situated on a slope, which is a strategically very strong location. From here, it was easy to keep an eye on the valley below. Today, this gate is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Every tourist visiting Mandu has to pass through here. This place still evokes the grandeur of Mandu.