|
Introduction
Agra is well-known as being home to the wonderful Taj
Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The gracefully
designed mausoleums, the fort and the palaces reminds
of the Mughal architectural brilliance. Besides the
Taj Mahal, other popular tourist spots in Agra are the
Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, Chini
Ka Rauza, Rambagh Gardens, Fatehpur Sikri, etc. One
such tourist attraction in Agra is the Buland Darwaza ,
a grand gateway located in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.
Background
The Buland Darwaza is the entrance gateway to the Jama
Masjid mosque in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. It is situated
on a hill where the Mosque is located. The grand recessed
central arch is the most magnificent of its kind in
the entire range of Mughal architecture in India. This
triumphal arch was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar
in 1575 on the southern wall of the courtyard, after
he defeated the King of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573.
Description
The name Buland Darwaza means High Door and this victory
arch has the height of 176 feet from ground level and
134 feet over the top step. Very striking even from
quite a distance, Buland Darwaza is a magnificent structure
built in red sandstone with ornamentation in white marble.
The calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran on its
front and pillars and chattris on its height make the
arch an impressive sight. The Buland Darwaza is also
indication of the religious tolerance of Akbar the Great,
evident from the inscription upon it attributed to Jesus
Christ - "The World is but a bridge, pass over
but build no houses on it."
How to reach
To reach the Buland Darwaza in Agra , by air you have
to land at the Agra airport, which is 7 km from the
city center. From Delhi, it takes only 40 minutes to
reach Agra by flight. The main railway station is Agra
Cantonment. The main bus stands in Agra are Agra Fort
and Idgah bus stand. There are many luxury taxis, coaches
or buses that drive to Agra every day.
IndianHoliday.com offers information on Buland Darwaza in Agra and other tourist places in Agra India. For
further information, please enter your query in the
form below.
|
