What is the name of the large gateway to the Taj Mahal complex?

The large gateway to the Taj Mahal complex is called the Darwaza-i-Rauza.

The name is often translated as “Great Gate” or “Gate of the Mausoleum.” It stands at the southern entrance to the complex and forms the monumental threshold between the outer forecourt and the formal garden. Visitors traditionally pass through it before seeing the mausoleum aligned at the far end of the garden.

Built mainly of red sandstone, the gateway echoes the Taj Mahal’s architectural language through its symmetry, domed chhatris, pointed arches, marble details, calligraphy, and ornamental inlay. Its design creates a carefully controlled reveal: the tomb appears framed through the central archway, making the entrance part of the monument’s visual experience rather than merely a functional door.

Darwaza-i-Rauza is easy to confuse with other famous Indian gateways. Buland Darwaza belongs to Fatehpur Sikri, Alai Darwaza is associated with the Qutb complex in Delhi, and Delhi Gate is a separate historic entrance. None is the Taj Mahal’s principal gateway.