This Location from 'Stree 2' was Carved in a Day: The History of Kati Ghati in Chanderi

The recent Bollywood film that is making records on the screen has been shot in the Chanderi District of Madhya Pradesh, a state that is known for its rich historical background. Capturing the same essence, there is a place shown in the ‘Stree 2’ movie where Vicky (Rajkumar Rao), Bittu (Aparshakti Khurana) and Janna (Abhishek Banerjee) bid farewell to Shraddha (character not revealed for spoiler purpose). This place is the famous Kati Ghati of Chanderi, which was built in a day. Want to know how? Keep reading!

In the movie, the characters are seen standing near a big carved gate in a scene where Shraddha Kapoor leaves the town in a bus. This place is called ‘Kati Ghati’ which is at the intersection of Bundelkhand and Malwa. One of Kati Ghati's most notable features is its enormous gate, which was carved out of a massive living rock that surrounded the village. This majestic gate, which is 25 meters wide and 10 meters high, allows tourists from Malwa and Bundelkhand to access Chanderi. 

The Mason that Carved the Gate in a Day 

According to legends, In 1495 CE, Jiman Khan, the son of the then-governor of Chanderi, faced an urgent challenge. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji of Malwa was set to arrive in the town, and a grand gateway was needed to welcome him. To impress the Sultan, Jiman Khan issued a daring challenge to carve the gate overnight and earn a big reward. Although the task seemed tough, one determined mason accepted the challenge. By dawn, the gate was completed, but in his rush, the mason had forgotten to carve space for door hinges, leaving a big entrance without doors and protection against the enemy invasion. The joy of Jiman Khan was short-lived upon noticing this folly made by the mason. His joy turned into anger and he decided not to reward the master mason.

The workman was left devastated by the news and felt helpless. In his despair, he tragically took his own life at the site. The location is still considered haunted, with the spirit of the mason said to roam the area. The fact that Stree 2 is a horror movie makes this story even more relatable. To honor his craft and as a gesture to embrace the unachievable, his grave was placed near the door. Today, this grave at Kati Ghati marks where he fell, serving as a poignant reminder of his dedication and the price of haste. At the time, he likely didn’t know that this same gate would stand as one of the popular attractions in Chanderi. While often quiet, the street now sees many tourists flocking to learn about its rich history and beauty.

Although this legend is the most heard and talked about, there is another story associated with Kati Ghati that says a hill was obstructing the way of the army of Babur to enter Chanderi and that’s when he ordered to cut the hill and make a way to enter the town. Whether or not true the above tale shows why Chanderi has become one of the hotspots in Madhya Pradesh because of its historically rich background and episodes worth narrating.