Featured Image by Bikashrd CC BY- SA 4.0
The Largest Mosque in India and one of the famous Muslim pilgrimage destinations in the world, the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is also known as the’ Friday Mosque’. Originally, it was known as Masjid-i-Jahan Numa, meaning ‘the mosque commanding the view of the whole world’. Its located in the heart of Old Delhi and is the Principal Mosque of people of Delhi.
Let’s have an insight at its details-
History and Some Information of Jama Masjid-
- Jama Masjid was established in 1656 AD, by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the ruler who constructed Red Fort of Delhi, and Taj Mahal of Agra too.
- The construction of the Masjid took place from 1650 to 1656 AD. with the help of about 5,000 workers and artisans.
- Saadullah Khan looked after the construction of the mosque, as he was the Prime Minister or wazir in the reign of Shah Jahan.
- The inauguration of the Jama Masjid took place on 23 July 1656 and was done by Imam Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari Uzbekistan, who came on Shah Jahan’s invitation.
- Recently, there were two terrorist activities in the Jama Masjid complex. In 2006, on 14th April there were two successive bomb blasts just after the Friday prayers, that resulted in major injuries to eight people and one was in serious condition.
The architecture of Jama Masjid-
- The whole Jama Masjid complex is made up of Red Sandstone and Marble, based on the Indo- Islamic and Mughal Styles of architecture.
- The dimensions of the mosque are 80 m by 27 m, length and breadth respectively. While the main hall for prayer measures about 61 m by 27.5 m.
- There are two minarets in the mosque, each having a height of 41 metres and five storeys along with 130 steps.
- The base of the mosque is a 1200 square meter platform made of red sandstone which rises about 30 feet high from the ground.
Eid Prayers Image By Jaithakurpix CC BY- SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The complex of Jama Masjid has a large square-shaped courtyard of side 100 metres, that has a capacity of holding 25,000 devotees that gather there at special occasions like Eid and Friday Prayers.
- The Masjid is said was constructed at a cost of One Million Rupees at that time, and is known as the Replica of Moti Masjid of Agra.
The mosque has two tall minarets, three large gates, and four towers as an architectural feature. - There are three domes, in which the central one is the biggest. The other two are located on either side of the central dome.
How to Reach Jama Masjid-
- ADDRESS- Near Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India PIN 110006.
- It is located in the heart of Old Delhi and the nearest Metro Station is Chawari Bazar on Yellow Line of Delhi Metro. From here one can walk to the masjid or can hire a rickshaw.
- Its around 17 km away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and can be reached by a 30 minutes ride in a taxi.
- The distance of the Masjid from New Delhi Railway Station is about 4 km and can be reached within 15 minutes by rickshaw or a taxi.
Entry Fee-
There is No Entry Fee for a visit to the Masjid. People are welcomed by the Islamic Religion to see the mosque and offer their prayers to get blessed.
INR 300 is charged as an extra fee for Photography.
Timings of Jama Masjid-
Jama Masjid is open to the public for their prayers, On All Days of a Week. The timings of the mosque are from 7 am to 12 noon and from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Tourists are not allowed to visit the mosque during the prayer hours in a day.
Travel Tip-
The place is a good destination to visit for solo travellers, photographers and families. Ladies are not allowed in the main mosque of the complex according to the beliefs of the Muslims. The nearby places like Red Fort should be covered along with this place. The approximate time taken to visit the place is around 1 hour. One should not miss the chance to visit this magnificent site of architecture.