Shahi Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Panoramic view of Shahi bridge | |
| Coordinates | 25°44′55″N82°41′05″E / 25.74870°N 82.68468°E /25.74870; 82.68468 |
| Crossed | Gomti River |
| Locale | Jaunpur |
| Official name | Akbari Bridge |
| Maintained by | Directorate of Archaeology, (U.P.) UP-PWD UP Bridge corporation |
| Heritage status | 1978 |
| Preceded by | Boat Bridge ofSharqi's |
| Followed by | Sadbhavana Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| History | |
| Designer | Afzal Ali |
| Construction start | 1564 |
| Construction end | 1567 |
| Opened | 1567 |
| Collapsed | 1934 (partial i.e. ⅓) |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | free |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Shahi Bridge | |
Shahi Bridge, also known asMunim Khan's Bridge,Akbari Bridge,Mughal Bridge orJaunpur Bridge,is a 16th-century bridge over riverGomti inJaunpur,Uttar Pradesh,India. The Shahi Bridge is located 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) north ofJaunpur Railway station, 7.3 kilometres (4.5 mi) northwest ofZafarābād, 16.2 kilometres (10.1 mi)north-northeast ofMariāhū and 26.6 kilometres (16.5 mi) west-northwest of the town ofKirākat.[1]
Mughal EmperorAkbar ordered the construction of the Shahi Bridge, which was completed in the year 1568–69 byMunim Khan.[2] It took four years to complete the bridge.[3] It was designed byAfghanarchitect Afzal Ali.[4]
The bridge was severely damaged in the1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake. Seven of its arches had to be rebuilt. In addition to its historical significance, the bridge is still in use.[5] The bridge consists of 28 colourfulchattris, which presently operates as makeshift shops.[6]
The bridge is on the Protection & Conservation list of Directorate of Archaeology, (U.P.) since 1978.[7] The bridge is generally recognised as Jaunpur's most significant Mughal structure.
A new bridge parallel to Shahi Bridge was opened on 28 November, 2006 by the thenChief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,Mulayam Singh Yadav.[8][9]
William Hodges in his book 'Select Views in India' mentions about bridge:[10]
"Theinundations have been frequently known to rise even over the bridge in so much that in the year 1774 a whole brigade of the British forces was passed over it in boats."
Rudyard Kipling's poemAkbar's Bridge mentions this bridge.[11][12]
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