Jama Masjid Delhi
Jama Masjid Delhi
Jama Masjid is the greatest mosque of Delhi also spelled
Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma, mosque in Old Delhi, India, built in
1650-56 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort a
famous patron of Islamic architecture. It is the largest mosque in India, capable
of placing 25,000 devotees.
Jama Masjid is Delhi's main mosque, where Muslims of the
city traditionally gather for Friday's communal prayer; Jama Masjid is Arabic
for "Friday Mosque". The tall name, the Masjid-e-Jahanuma, is
transformed into "the mosque that reflects the world" or "the
mosque that displays the world". The main building material was red stone,
but some white marble was also used.
Every year, on the Eid, thousands of pilgrims go to the
mosque to pay Eid prayers on the morning. Under the instructions of Shahi Imam,
the mosque is maintained jointly by Delhi Waqf Board and Jama Masjid Committee.
History of Jama Masjid
After the death of his wife, the Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan decided to transfer his capital from Agra to Delhi. It remained the
capital Shahajahanabad of the Mughals which we now know by the name of Old
Delhi.
The Jama Masjid was built as the central mosque of the
new city. Built by more than 5000 artisans, under the supervision of Wazir
Sadullah Khan, the mosque designed by architect Ustad Khalil takes 6 years to
complete. 1656, the mosque was inaugurated by a mullah of Syed Abdul Gafoor
Shah Bukhari, Bukhara (now Uzbekistan), whom he appointed as the Imam of Shahi
Imam and the higher post of Imamat-e.
Design & Architecture
The mosque is built on the platform of a huge height,
which can be reached on three sides, through stairs which are East (35 steps),
North (39 steps) and South (33 steps).
The eastern gate is the biggest and works as the royal entrance. The mosque
is west towards the holy city of Mecca. The three sides of the mosque are
covered with open arched colonies. The roof of the mosque is coated with three
marble domes with alternate strips in black and white marble.
The dome is covered with gold ornamentation. Two 40 meters high towers
decorated with stripes of white marble and red sandstone. There are 130 steps
inside each tower and open only public for a Southern side.
The length of the mosque is 80 meters and the width is 27
meters. The walls of the mosque are covered with stone till waist-level height.
The courtyard in the front of the mosque is 408 square
feet and in it, 25,000 people can sit in prayer. Hauz, in the center of the
courtyard, there is a reservoir tank to wash hands, face and feet before
entering the main building for prayer.
Facts and Figure of Jama Maszid
Construction Started 1644
Construction Completed 1656
Cost of Construction 1 million rupees
Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Location Old
Delhi, Near Red Fort, India
Architectural Style Islamic
Architect Ustad
Khalil
Nearest Metro Station Jama
Masjid
Entry Fee Free entry
How to Reach
AC and non-AC buses connect Jama Masjid. Autos and taxis are
also available to reach here. Nearest Metro Station is Jama Masjid.
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