About

Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in India. Buland Darwaza was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1601 A.D. at Fatehpur Sikri to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. Buland Darwaza is 53.63m high and 35 meters wide. The structure is approached by 42 steps.

Buland Darwaza is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by carving and inlaying of white and black marble. The Buland Darwaza is semi octagonal in plan and is topped by pillars and chhatris. It is adorned with calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran. There are thirteen smaller domed kiosks on the roof, stylized battlement and small turrets and inlay work of white and black marble. An inscription on the central face of the Buland Darwaza displays Akbar's religious broad mindedness. It is attributed to Jesus Christ and reads, "The World is but a bridge, pass over but build no houses on it." A Persian inscription on eastern arch way of the Buland Darwaza records Akbar's conquest over Deccan in 1601 A.D.

History

In the year 1573, the Emperor Akbar built this huge monument to commemorate his victory over Khandesh (or Gujarat, as it is now known). It was built by Muhammad of Ghazani. It took almost 12 years to complete the structure. Fatehpur Sikri was an important place during the time of Akbar, and Agra was the capital.

Fatehpur Sikri has many other important monuments, but this one towers above all. The structure is the most beautiful one that has been built with great dedication and passion.

Location

Buland Darwaza is located in the town of Fatehpur Sikri in Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The beautiful city of Agra that has the world famous Taj Mahal is only 43 km from Fatehpur Sikri.

Architecture

The name Buland Darwaza comes from the Persian language, which means "mighty gate". The monument is an imposing construction and stands almost 43 feet tall on a majestic pedestal and is 54 feet above the ground. One has to climb 42 steps in order to reach the gate.

The architecture has a great influence of Persian and Hindu styles. There are inscriptions from the Holy Quran that can be seen on the pillars at the front. The calligraphy is quite unique and was a favourite motif of the Mughal Emperors. The gateway has one famous inscription that says, 'The work is a bridge, just pass over but, never build houses'. The whole structure comprises two aspects, one is the frontal, the main aspect, having the portal look, and the posterior one, that comprises a much plainer portion that is in the mosque courtyard. There are three planes on the central face, and smaller ones on each side.

The monument is made of red sandstone, white and black marble, and is semi-octagonal in design. It has pillars along with chhatri on the top.

Best time to visit

The best to visit the site is during the winter season, that is from November to March. The summers are very hot, with the heat hovering around intolerable levels. The Buland Darwaza opens from 8 a.m.in the morning to 7 p.m. in the evening. The place is open on all days. The entry fee is Rs. 10 for Indians and the citizens of the SAARC nations, and Rs. 750 for foreign tourists. The ticket also includes entry to Fatehpur Sikri.