Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is the fine architectural extravaganza of the Mughal Emperor. This monument was built between 1644 AD and 1658 AD by five thousand artisans. Originally called the "Masjid-i-Jahanuma", or "Mosque commanding view of the world", this magnificent structure suggests an awesome monument to history and religion.

It is situated some quarter of a mile from the Red Fort. It was designed as Emperor Shahjahan's principal mosque. Just like other structures of Shahjahanabad, Jama Masjid 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. On its steps, in the narrow streets criss-crossing, Meena Bazaar and its famous Urdu Bazzar. On the east, this monument faces the Red Fort (Lal Qila) and has three gateways, four towers and two minarets. Constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble, the Jama Masjid is the largest and perhaps the most magnificent mosque in India.



The plan and design of the mosque were done by the great sculptor of the time, Ostad Khalil. Shahjahan built Jama Masjid at the cost of Rs 10 crore and it can be called as the replica of Moti Masjid in Agra.

Jama Masjid also comprise of a great treasure that has been kept in the northeast corner of the white shrine- a hair of the beard of Hazrat Muhammad, his used chappal (slippers), a chapter of Koran taken from its original holy book, the canopy of his tombstone and the foot print of Muhammad on the stone.