Jami Masjid
At the southwestern corner of the palace complex, with the village of Fatehpur Sikri nestling at its base, stands the Jami Masjid , or Dargah Mosque. The alignment of the entire palace complex, which faces west instead of following the ridge, was determined by the orientation of the mosque's mihrab (prayer niche) towards Mecca. Housing the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, the mosque is unusual in that it is also a living Sufi shrine. The main approach is through the imposing Buland Darwaza (Great Gate), though you may choose to use the Shahi Darwaza to escape the attentions of touts, unofficial guides and hawkers. Built around 1576, possibly to commemorate Akbar's brilliant campaign in Gujarat, the spectacular gate reaches a height of 54m and is scaled by an impressive flight of steps. Flanked by domed kiosks, the archway of the simple sandstone memorial is inscribed with a message from the Koran: "Said Jesus Son of Mary (peace be on him): The world is but a bridge - pass over without building houses on it. He who hopes for an hour hopes for eternity; the world is an hour - spend it in prayer for the rest is unseen." Before entering the mosque itself, visitors are required to remove their shoes, but cloth sandals can be borrowed for a small fee. The gate leads into a vast cloistered courtyard containing the Zenana Rauza (Tomb of the Royal Ladies), and the lattice-screen Tomb of Islam Khan , one of many nobles buried here. The focus of the Sufi shrine or dargah is the relatively small but exquisite Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti , much of which was originally crafted in red sandstone and only later faced in marble: the lattice screens are among the most intricate and beautiful in the world, with striking serpentine brackets supporting the eaves. Sheikh Salim played a crucial role in the founding of Fatehpur Sikri by prophesizing the birth of a son to the emperor. When one of Akbar's wives, Rani Jodh Bai, a Hindu Rajput princess from Amber, became pregnant she was sent here until the birth of her son Salim, who later became the emperor Jahangir. Fatehpur Sikri was constructed in the saint's honour. The Dargah still attracts women who come here to pray for offspring, tying string onto the marble screen; when entering the main chamber, visitors cover their heads with cloth as a mark of respect. During Ramadan, an urs is held here, attracting qawwals (singers of Sufi songs) from all over the country.
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