Jaunpur is located 65 km from Varanasi. In 1360 Feroz Shah built the Jaunpur Fort to guard the eastern side of his Delhi sultanate. Built on an ancient site, it became the capital of independent Muslim Sharqui Kingdom.

Jaunpur is bisected by the river Gomti and the two sides are connected by the massive Akbari Bridge. This bridge was designed by an Afghan and was built in the 16th century. The fifteen stone arches of the bridge have withstood earthquakes and floods. On the southern end of the bridge is the sculptures of a lion tussling with an elephant. This marked the provincial milestone.

For architectural historians this town is of interest for it's mosques, which are built in a unique style that is part Islamic, part Buddhist, and part Jain.  The most impressive mosques were built between 1394 and 1478. They were built on the ruins of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples and shrines. Atala Masjid dedicated to Atala Devi, built in 1408 on the site of a Hindu temple. Jama Masjid was built between 1438 and 1478.