Image: Detail of the Gates from the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni stored in the Arsenal of Agra Fort - ILN 1872

Description: The Supposed Gates of Somnauth, in the Arsenal of the Fort at Agra. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 13 January 1872. Detail of the Gates from the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni stored in the Arsenal of Agra Fort. In 1842, Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough issued his "Proclamation of the Gates", where he ordered the British army in Afghanistan to Ghazni, to bring back to India the sandalwood gates from the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni in Afghanistan. These were believed to have been taken by Mahmud from Somnath. There was a debate in 1843 in the House of Commons on the question. After much argument between the British Government and the opposition, the gates were uprooted and brought back to India in triumph. However on arrival, they were found to be replicas of the original Somnauth Gates. They were placed in a store-room of the Arsenal in Agra Fort where they still lie to the present day.
Title: The Supposed Gates of Somnauth, in the Arsenal of the Fort at Agra
Credit: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1000_1099/ghaznavids/somnath/somnath.html
Author: The Illustrated London News
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No