The Buland Darwaza and the great mosque
Akbar added the Buland Darwaza to the southern side of the Jama Masjid around 1575, after his victories in Gujarat. From road level it rises about 54 m, including its flight of steps, and its arch is framed by inscriptions in Persian, including a line attributed to Jesus about the world being a bridge to cross but not to build on.
Passing through the gate, you enter the courtyard of the Jama Masjid, one of the largest of the period, about 160 m across. The prayer hall on the west side has carved domes and painted ceilings in places. Salim Chishti's white tomb and the red sandstone tomb of Islam Khan, his grandson, sit in the courtyard.
From the edge of the gate there is a wide view south over the plain towards Bharatpur. We usually visit after the palace complex, entering the mosque from the north side and leaving through the Buland Darwaza, so you walk down the steps with the full height of the gate behind you.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How tall is the Buland Darwaza?
The gate is about 54 m high measured from the road, including the long flight of steps leading up to it, with the gateway itself about 40 m. It was built around 1575 to celebrate Akbar's campaign in Gujarat and forms the southern entrance to the mosque courtyard. It remains among the tallest gateways in the world.
Do I have to climb the steps of the Buland Darwaza?
No. You can enter the mosque courtyard from the palace side without the steps and still walk out to stand under the gate's arch. The steps are steep and uneven, so many older travellers see the gate from inside the courtyard and from the car park below, which gives the best full view.
What should I wear to the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri?
Cover shoulders and legs, and carry a scarf for covering your head at Salim Chishti's tomb. Shoes are left at the gate, so wear something easy to slip off and carry socks, as the stone is hot in summer and cold on winter mornings. Our guides arrange shoe storage.
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