Jama Masjid – Delhi

The Jama Masjid in Delhi is frequently referred to be India’s most gorgeous mosque. This 17th-century gigantic building is in the center of Old Delhi and displays Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s architectural grandeur. The mosque is so popular that a journey to the national capital would be incomplete without a stop there.

History of Jama Masjid

Shah Jahan built this beautiful mosque in his walled city of Shahjahanbad, currently known as Old Delhi. The construction of the mosque began in 1644 and was completed in 1656, after 12 years. The total cost of the Jama Masjid was around one million rupees. Previously, the mosque was known as Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, which translates as “the Mosque that Reflects the World.” The mosque was dedicated on July 23, 1656, by Imam Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. Shah Jahan also named him as the mosque’s first Shahi Imam. It served as the emperor’s royal mosque till the end of the Mughal period. Following the 1857 Revolt, the victorious British authorities took the mosque and destroyed it. However, considerable public resistance forced them to reconsider their plan, and the structure was spared any harm.

The Architecture of Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid in Delhi is one of the finest mosques in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. This magnificent mosque is built using red sandstone and white marble in an Indo-Islamic architectural style. The height of the mosque is 261 feet with a 90 feet width. There are three huge arched gates, three marble dones, four towers, and two towering minarets. The courtyard of Jama Masjid can hold 25,000 people at the time of prayer. Shah Jahan used the Eastern gate and the Northern gate was used by nobles. The Southern gate was used by the common people. Both the minarets have five floors each with a balcony popping out. The height of the minarets is 130 feet. Further, there are a total of 130 steps inside both the minaret to reach the top. The inside of this mosque is embellished with magnificent arches, floral decorations, and fluorescent motifs. The mosque’s treasures include a copy of the Quran written on deerskin, red hair from Prophet Mohammed’s beard, a pair of his shoes, and his footprints on a marble block.

Interesting Facts about Jama Masjid

• The Eastern gate has 35 steps leading to it. The Northern and Southern gates have 39 and 33 steps.
• Aurangzeb was inspired by the architecture of the Jama Masjid and used his inspiration to build Badshahi Masjid in Lahore.
• The Masjid is in a straight line between Connaught Place & and Parliament House.
• It is not the largest mosque in India. The Taj-ul-Masjid in Bhopal is considered the largest because it can hold 175,000 people.

Tickets & Timings of Jama Masjid

The times for visiting the Jama Masjid are from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. The entry fees are as follows:

• The entry to Jama Masjid is free.
• The entry to Minarest costs INR 100 per person.
• The camera fee is INR 300.