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| Home » India Heritage and Pilgrimage Destinations » Jama Masjid |
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Jama Masjid |
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Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India and the final architectural extravagance of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is also known as 'Masjid-i-Jahan Numa', 'Jahan' means 'World' and Numa means 'Visible'. Jama Masjid is situated some quarter of a mile from the Red Fort. It was designed as Emperor Shahjahan's principal mosque. The sprawling esplanade,which separates it from the arterial road is a fascinating leisure ground. The construction work continued for six years, ending in 1644. The
structure was placed on a high platform so that its magnificent facade would be visible from all the adjoining areas.
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Jama Masjid is an austere, yet, a beautiful building. Just like other buildings of Shahjahanabad, this one was also built with red sandstone. White marble has also been used extensively, specially in the three domes and has been inlaid with stripes of black pulpit is one of its best features, being carved out of a single block of marble. Built by a workforce of 5,000 people, the mosque's three gateways, four towers and two minarets are testimony to the fine architecture of that period. The main prayer hall on the west is decorated by a series of high cusped arches, which stand on 260 pillars. These pillars support 15 marble domes at various elevations. The imposing gateways are approached through a broad flight of steps in the north and the south.
The hallmarks of this famous mosque are the wide staircases and arched gateways. There is a small shrine within that houses the relic of the Prophet as well as the Holy Koran. Its courtyard has a capacity to hold nearly 25,000 worshipers and is also open to the general public. It is said that the walls of the mosque were tilted at a certain angle so that at the time of an earthquake, the walls do not collapse in the courtyard but outwards. The Jama Masjid combines the best of the Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. It is one of the Places in India which is the India Heritage and Pilgrimage Destinations.
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