Shahi Darwaza | Blue Lapis Road

DAY 8 (5/5): FRIDAY MOSQUE, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018.12.01

Out of all structures in Fatehpur Sikri, the most imposing building is undoubtedly Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque). Completed in 1571, Akbar’s impressive grand mosque houses the white marble tomb of Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti, and the spectacular 54m tall Buland Darwaza (Victory Gate). One of the biggest mosques in India, the Jama Masjid of Fatehpur Sikri features a series of chhatris, elevated dome shaped pavilions purely for decoration. We came just in time to make a brief visit at the mosque before sunset.

From the former royal palaces, we entered the mosque via the Shahi Darwaza (King’s Gate). At the gate, we took off our shoes and left them with the shoe keeper along with a small fee.

Beyond the Shahi Darwaza, we arrived at a huge open courtyard.

The gigantic Buland Darwaza (Victoria Gate) was built as a victory arch to commemorate Akbar’s conquest of Gujarat.

At 55m from the outside, the Buland Darwaza (Victoria Gate) is considered the tallest gate in the world.

At the back, the Buland Darwaza stepped down to a more human scale towards the main courtyard.

Opposite to Buland Darwaza stands the elegant white marble tomb of Shaikh Salim Chisti and the red sandstone assembly hall Jamat Khana.

The Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chisti is considered one of the finest example of Mughal architecture.

The marble cenotaph is popular with Islam worshipers. Shaikh Salim Chisti was a Sufi saint who blessed Emperor Akbar with his son before he was born.

Worshipers studied religious text at the outer corridor of the cenotaph. Photography was not allowed inside the cenotaph.

The tomb building is covered all four sides with beautiful lattice.

Showing the direction of Mecca, the central mihrab is covered by a dome.

We paid a brief visit to the interior of the main mosque building.

Splendid marble inlay in geometric patterns cover most of the interior walls.

The principal mihrab situates beneath the great dome of the mosque.

Worshipers gathered at the front porch of the assembly hall Jamat Khana.

There are a number of tombs in the courtyard.

As the sun set below the magnificent sandstone chhatris, it was time for us to return to the parking lot and finished our day’s journey to Agra.

At around 8pm, we finally arrived at Taj Ganj, the district immediately south of majestic Taj Mahal in Agra. After checking in at our simple guesthouse near the West Gate, we headed out for a quick bite. We would need to rest for the night and get up early the next day to line up for the sunrise entry into the Taj Mahal before 6am.