Name of the place- Jama Masjid
Picture credit- Google Images
Timings: 7am to 12pm & 1:30-6:30 pm
Visit duration: 1-2 hours
Jama Masjid is
situated in Chandni chowk in the Old Delhi. It is the second largest
mosque in India with prayer halls that have the capacity to occupy over 25000
pilgrims and famous as one of the last structures of Shahjahan and it was made
during 1644-1658. It is the main mosque of Delhi. Jama masjid is made up of red sandstone and white marble
stones. Jama Masjid was originally known as "Masjid-i-jahan-numa"
which means mosque with a commanding view of the world. Jama masjid is called 'Friday
Mosque' in Arabic language and is the spot where the Muslim community gathers for Friday communal prayer.
History of Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid was constructed in constructed in
1650–56 by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahan, who contributed a lot in Mughal
architecture and whose most famous work is the Taj Mahal,
in Agra. Jama Masjid is now the second largest mosque in India,
is also an impressive sample of the architectures by Mughals. It is
believed that over 5,000 workers were working during the construction of Jama
Masjid. The total cost of construction was around one million rupees, a huge
amount at the time and this amount includes only the wages of the workers
during the construction and not the cost of the materials that was used in the
construction. The first imam (Muslim religious leader)appointed by Shah Jahan
was Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. He originally belonged from
Bukhara, Uzbekistan, which was a leading Islamic intellectual base at that
time.
Architecture of Jama Masjid
Jama masjid is built on a height of over 30
feet, Jama Masjid towers over the adjoining area. Red sandstone and white
marble are the two main materials used in building the mosque. It has three
gates, four towers, three domes, and two minarets, which are 130 feet each. In
the past, the eastern gateway was only used for royal use. About 25,000 people
can be lodged at a time inside Jama Masjid.
The prayer hall inside the mosque is 90 feet by
200 feet. There are Persian inscriptions written on the portals which leads to
the prayer hall. The floor is made like a prayer mat and is constructed of
white and black marbles. The relics of Prophet Muhammad are preserved inside
the mosque, that includes a beard hair, a pair of his sandals, and the
impression of his footprint. It is oriented in the west direction where the Holy city of mecca lies, Jama Masjid fascinating architectural fact is that
it has been constructed in a way that its base is positioned at the precise
height as the tip of the famous Peacock Throne, the royal Mughal seat inside
Red fort that symbolize the supremacy of God over any king.
How to reach Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid is situated in Chandni chowk in the front of Red fort. The easiest way to reach Jama Masjid is by metro. The nearest metro station is Chandni Chowk it is a few minutes walk from there. The masjid opens everyday from 7am to 12pm and 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm. There is no entry charge but the photography charge is 300. Tourists are not allowed during praying hours.
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