Grave threat to Lalapet walls & darwazas

Lalapet: Just as walls were constructed in the Old City of Hyderabad, fortification walls were built in Lalapet village to ward off bandits and enemies. Constructed during the Qutb Shahi rule that extended to the Asaf Jahi period, the village was fortified. The walls have now almost vanished, and just a few traces remain. Old timers say that the Qutub Shahi and Asaf Jahi rulers would stop at Lalapet and head to Moula Ali hillock. Made of stones and masonary of that period, one can see parts of the wall still intact and apartments in the background.

Anjaiah, a resident of Lalapet says, “There were four darwazas but only two remain. One was demolished during the razakars time and the other was brought down a few years ago.” Out of the four, patha peta darwaza exists which can be seen on the way towards Ram theatre from Tarnaka side. Pingula dawaza (through which dead bodies would be taken was demolished a few years ago. Old timers say that a darwaza was demolished during the Razakars time. Yadgiri, 72, a barber whose family has been residing in Lalapet for over 100 years, says, “My father would say that there was a three-foot pathway and the walls rose to 15 feet and had holes in them for people to fire at enemies. The gates would be closed at night.”

The darwazas are original and have withstood the vagaries of nature. With roots hanging over them from age-old trees, these darwazas remind one of a time gone by. One can see parts of the wall all along the stretch from the Lalapet flyover till Ram theatre. A few years ago, the wall was demolished and just behind it is a municipal indoor stadium. A temple has come up close to a darwaza inside the village and vehicles still pass through it. Locals fear that with increasing traffic, the main darwaza may go as the authorities are planning to extend the road.