Built by Sher Shah Suri and formerly known as Lal Darwaza, the Khooni Darwaza is an important part of Indian history. It is one of 13 surviving gates in the city of Delhi.
Khooni Darwaza is situated near the famous Delhi Gate, towards the south of Old Delhi. Actually an arch outside Feroz Shah Kotla, this beautiful piece of structure is a very important part of the violent history of the country.
Located in an open tract of land, one can find this historic archway on the legendary Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, just opposite the Feroz Shah Kotla Cricket Ground. Now just a mere remembrance of the times that have gone by, Khooni Darwaza is also regarded as one of the most haunted places in the capital.
This quartzite stone monument is 50 feet in height, and has different levels to it which can be accessed by three different staircases.
As of today, Khooni Darwaza is considered to be a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. With numerous tales interwoven about the place, Khooni Darwaza is amongst the central structures of importance in Indian history.
The Khooni Darwaza is one of the few remnants of the fateful days during 1857’s Great Rebellion which not only helped to shape the country as it is now, but also changed the entire system of rule in India.
History of Khooni Darwaza:
Only a few people who visit the Khooni Darwaza on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in Central Delhi are aware of the bloody history that the place has. Located smack dab in the middle of a busy street, this archway is a living example of the gory violence that India’s history is deeply steeped in.
More like a small fort, Khooni Darwaza is a 15.5-meter-high, quartzite stone structure, which has three staircases leading to the different levels inside the gate.
Built in the early 16th century by Sher Shah Suri, it was earlier known as the Kabuli Darwaza, which acted as the place where caravans to Afghanistan used to pass through.
Additionally, it was also used as a point of display of the heads of criminals.
The name Khooni Darwaza was given to it during the Mughal era.
It is during this time that Jahangir killed Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khana’s sons and hung them on this gate. He then left their bodies to rot and be eaten by vultures.
History then further repeated itself when Aurangzeb, Jahangir’s grandson, defeated Dara Shikoh and then displayed his head at the gate.
Then, in 1857, Mirza Mughal and Mirza Khizr Sultan, the sons of Bahadur Shah Zafar and Mirza Abu Bakr, his grandson, were all murdered at this gate by Captain Hodson, after the king surrendered before the British.
Hodson panicked seeing a huge crowd here and stripped the princes naked and shot them in front of everyone. He then laid their bodies in front of the Kotwali in Chandni Chowk for many days, letting them rot in the sun or be eaten by vultures.
Following this, even during Independence, the Khooni Darwaza saw a lot of bloodshed. It is here where thousands of refugees were mercilessly killed while they were on their way to safety in Purana Qila.
Why you should visit Khooni Darwaza:
You should visit Khooni Darwaza mostly due to its historical significance. There is no other archway in the entire country which has so much blood on its hands as this structure.
Built by Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Suri Dynasty, this archway serves as a landmark in the country’s history.
And it is the history which still attracts numerous people to visit the Khooni Darwaza. For the curious souls who are addicted to Indian history and how it was shaped, the Khooni Darwaza is the best place to visit, even more so since it is one of the few remaining structures of those times.
It not only tells the gory story of the Great Rebellion, but is also an architectural marvel in itself, hidden in plain sight in the middle of the city.
If history doesn’t tickle your soul, you can simply visit the Khooni Darwaza to marvel at the majestic structure. Hidden within the trees on the road still carrying the name of the king and his heirs, this beautiful archway still portrays the intricate details that structures of those times used to have.
In addition to this, the archway also has a lot of paranormal stories associated with it.
Many people who are interested in the other-worldly and ghosts, tend to visit Khooni Darwaza quite often to experience the tales for themselves. If you are a history buff and love to explore, Khooni Darwaza is a great place to visit. 
