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The beautiful city of Agra is situated on the banks of the Yamuna River. Agra is major tourist attraction today because of its renowned architecture and Mughal era buildings such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri , all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tourist from all over India and the world come to Agra as a result. The Buland Darwaza is a grand gateway located in Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Mughal Emperor Akbar built this triumphal arch after he defeated the king of Khandesh or Gujarat in 1573. The name Buland Darwaza literally means ‘High Door'. The victory rises to a height of 40 meters or 175 feet. The Buland Darwaza is the most striking monument in Fatehpur Sikri and is visible from a quite a distance. The structure of the Darwaza rises impressively towards the sky and is approached by a series of steps. You will pass under the massive arch of the Buland Darwaza when you enter the city of Fatehpur Sikri. The Buland Darwaza structure is magnificent and built in red sandstone with decorations in white marble. There are calligraphic inscriptions from the Quran on its front and pillars and chattris on its height which truly make it an impressive structure. The Buland Darwaza is also an evidence of the religious tolerance of Akbar the Great. There is an inscription on the Buland Darwaza which is attributed to Jesus Chirst which says "The World is but a bridge, pass over but build no houses on it." This impressive monument is situated on a hill where the Jama Masjid Mosque is located and the Buland Dawraza acts as the entrance gateway to the Jama Masjid Mosque in Fatehpur Sikri. The soaring gateway of the Buland Darwaza is one of the grandest of Mughal monuments which should not be missed at any cost during a visit to Agra.
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