Jama Masjid Delhi


Jama Masjid Delhi


Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old 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

Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old Delhi

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

Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old Delhi

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.

Other Images of Jama Maszid


Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old Delhi

Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old Delhi

Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old Delhi

Jami Masjid or Masjid-i Jahannuma,  jama Mosque in Old Delhi


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