Buland Darwaja

This monumental gateway is an integral part of the mosque complex and serves as the main entrance to the mosque, facing south. The Persian inscription on the eastern side of the main archway records that Akbar built this gateway to commemorate his conquest over the Deccan in 1601 A.D., and hence it's southern orientation. It is the entrance that visitors use when viewing the sacred complex. The 40-meter high gateway stands perched at the highest point of the ridge. It is semi-octagonal in plan, with an oblong central plane containing portals. The main archway is flanked by two smaller wings on either side, which are triple-storied and contain arched openings .The central archway is framed in a broad band of yellow buff sandstone and bordered by red sandstone panels. At the bottom of the arch are two square panels on either side containing white marble inlay work enclosed by a triple band of ornamentation and also feature additional geometrical inlay work in white and black marble. This great arch is topped with stylized battlements, including small domes: the pattern resembles that of Jami Masjid. The roof of the arch is crowned with three larger kiosks and is surrounded by thirteen smaller domed kiosks. The doorway is adorned with smaller turrets on all four sides. The interior of arch contains three actual openings of nearly equal dimensions, and each is 18 meters in height. These three arches are also bordered with decorative panels. Each arch is superimposed by three other arched openings, over which rises a semi dome.