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Primary sourceArtifactbegun 1573

Buland Darwaza

begun 1573

A monumental sandstone gateway Akbar built at Fatehpur Sikri to celebrate his conquest of Gujarat, inscribed with a saying attributed to Jesus.

Akbar ordered this gate built to commemorate his own military conquest of Gujarat.

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Front view of the Buland Darwaza, a tall red sandstone gateway with white domed pavilions on its roof, a large central arched portal, and a wide flight of steps leading up to it. Several people stand on the steps and a small white goat is at lower left.
Buland Darwaza, begun 1573 by Akbar. Fatehpur Sikri, India.

About this source

What it is

The Buland Darwaza, or 'Exalted Gate', is a huge gateway at Fatehpur Sikri whose construction Akbar began in 1573 to mark his victory over Gujarat. It forms the main entrance to the Jama Masjid mosque and is one of the tallest gateways of its kind, made of red and buff sandstone with marble inlay.

Why it matters

The gate is a striking display of Mughal engineering and design under Akbar. Its inscription, which quotes words attributed to Jesus son of Mary alongside verses from the Quran, reflects Akbar's openness to ideas from different religious traditions, fitting with his interfaith discussions nearby at the Ibadat Khana.

Look closer

  • Why might Akbar choose to carve words attributed to Jesus on a gate marking a Muslim ruler's military victory?
  • What does the sheer scale of the gateway tell you about what Akbar wanted visitors to feel on arrival?
  • How does a victory monument like this shape later ideas about the ruler who built it?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Akbar the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Victoria and Albert Akbarnama

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Fatehpur Sikri

founded 1571

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Akbar Holds a Religious Assembly in the Ibadat Khana

Nar Singh · c. 1605

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