Jama Masjid

Sharon
Sharon
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Editor Pick

Jama Masjid

  • October 20, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Jama Masjid

Moghul emperor Shah Jahan, grandson of Akbar the Great and world-famous for building the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, constructed the Masjid-i-Jahan Numa (the "world view mosque" in the emperor's Persian) in the 17th century. It took an important place on the Bho Jhala hillock overlooking the Shah's new capital city Shahjahanabad and the Red Fort. The mosque, more commonly known as Jama Masjid or Friday Mosque, after the Muslim gathering day, is the largest one in India, capable of receiving 25,000 worshippers.

The mosque is surrounded by an almost one hectare square courtyard encompassed by red sandstone walls. There are three huge gates to enter the complex, the main gate facing east towards the Red Fort, all reachable through a long flight of red sandstone steps. For a satellite view on the complex, you may use the excellent Google maps tool. There is no entrance fee but a camera ticket of Rs 100 (2 €) is required in case you want to take pictures inside. You are obliged to take off your shoes before the gate, but some people may ask a small "guard fee", so it might be easier to take them inside e.g. in a plastic bag or in your backpack.

Behind the gates, the view on the mosque is wonderful. The 80m long and 25m wide central prayer hall of the mosque, topped with three large domes, is flanked with two 40m high minarets, one of which can be climbed for a small fee. Red sandstone is mixed with white and black marble to a remarkable unity. The prayer hall can be reached through 10 arched gates and one large central entrance gate. Its interior is a combination of red sandstone arches with black and white marble inlays. The beautiful marble floor of the prayer hall is, as usual in mosques worldwide, adorned with Persian-style carpets for the praying devotees.

From the Red Fort, walk towards Chandni Chowk and cross the large Netaji Subhash Marg. Take this avenue south for a few 100 metres. Just past the bazaar take the unmarked road westwards. Soon bicycle rickshaws will approach you to do the last kilometre with them. Soon you will notice the steps and behind it the eastern gate to the mosque compound. Be aware of pickpockets and beggars.

The mosque is close to Old Delhi railway station or Chandni Chowk metro station. From Connaught Place you can take DTC bus 185, 255 or 271 for a few rupees, especially fun during rush hours, or a rickshaw for around Rs 50.

From journal Delhi: The Good, the Bad or the Ugly?

Jama Masjid

  • January 26, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by lisalund from Dallas, Texas
Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and the last built by Shah Jahan.

Upon leaving the Red Fort, we caught a rickshaw to begin our tour into Chandni Chowk. You really cannot go by any other transportation means, other than by foot. We headed off into traffic, driving past snake charmers, trinket peddlers, and the bustling crowd of old Delhi.

We entered Jama Masjid through a side entrance (or so it seemed). We left our shoes with the shoe guard and began to explore the mosque.

After climbing some steps, we entered the main courtyard. You really have to admire the beauty and symmetry of the Moghuls. The courtyard was crowded with running children, families, and birds.

You can climb the highest minaret and catch a fantastic view of the surrounding area. After a good climb, you find yourself at the top of the small minaret. There's enough space for maybe seven people. It's absolutely amazing to observe the ceaseless activity below from the small minaret.

From journal Quick trip to India

Editor Pick

Jami Masjid Mosque

  • October 23, 2003
  • Rated 5 of 5 by JenLara from New York City, New York
Jami Masjid Mosque

The Jami Masjid Mosque was my favorite sight in Delhi. It's just massive, and with good reason: it needs to accommodate about 25,000 men each Friday for religious services! There are stripes along the floor of the open-air interior of the mosque, indicating where all these bodies should go. Pretty incredible to imagine, especially when you're standing there virtually alone at 7am on a silent, muggy morning!

The structure of the mosque is just visually beautiful, made of patterned, tiled red sandstone and topped with pointed turrets. Inside the walls of the mosque are hallways and smaller shrines, where every now and then you can spot a Delhi resident kneeling in silent prayer.

A groundskeeper was sweeping the floors of the open-air prayer floor with a broom on a rope that he swung around his head and beat against the tile as he walked. The regular sound of the swoosh against the tile floor was soothing and meditative. The Jami Masjid mosque is just a peaceful and very impressive place -- both an architectural feat (built by the ubiquitous Shah Jahan) and a calm, quiet respite from the manic energy roiling just beyond the walls of the mosque in Old Delhi.

From journal Delhi, India: Exotic, Colorful, Fascinating & HOT!

Editor Pick

Jama Masjid

  • June 20, 2002
  • Rated 4 of 5 by phileasfogg from New Delhi, India
Jama Masjid

My favourite monument in Shahjahanabad. The Jama Masjid- the `Congregational Mosque’ is what it means- is a stunning building in red sandstone and white marble. The largest mosque in India and one of Shahjahan’s most beautiful creations (as far as Mughal architecture is concerned, his reign’s usually rated as the zenith- the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid are its best examples).

Built between 1650-56 to function as the mosque for the Mughal Court, the masjid stands atop a plinth- the level’s high so that you look up to it in reverence, quite literally. When Shahjahan came here to pray every Friday, he’d enter along with a huge retinue through the Eastern Gate, but it’s kept locked nowadays, so you’ll have to go in by the side gate- and that’s an experience in itself. You come in through a high stone gate, and suddenly you’re in this massive courtyard, with the mosque towering up on your left. It has a façade of 11 arches, topped by three domes. All perfectly symmetrical, subtly decorated, and absolutely stunning.

You can wander around the mosque (not during namaz, obviously) but do take off your shoes. Leave them at the entrance- someone will be there to keep an eye on them- or you can carry them in your hand, provided you hold them with their soles touching each other (the logic is that the soles, which are unclean, should not face the sacred city of Mecca, which lies due west).

Entry's free, but you'll have to pay Rs 5 if you want to climb to the top of the minar (the tower) of the mosque. It's a climb of 122 steps- but the view is fabulous.

From journal Exploring Mughal Delhi

Editor Pick

Jami Masjid

  • July 28, 2000
  • Rated 3 of 5 by Amanda from London, United Kingdom
Jami Masjid

A giant oasis of calm amid frantic Old Delhi. If you're here in the heat, it's marginally cooler than the rest of the city! The 17th century buildings make up the biggest mosque in India, and it is a truly vast place. It's set on a slight hill, and there are great views of Delhi, Old and New - in particular, this is a great place to view the Red Fort from; if you have already been there, it's interesting to see how the buildings fit together, and if you have yet to go, it's a good preview. The building is constructed from a very red stone, and is in the typical mosque pattern. There are steep steps up to the mosque, and then a covered entry hall, where you must take off your shoes. Further inside, the gigantic quadrangle of the main mosque is mostly open to the skies, apart from the columned area around the edges, which are shaded. If you are bare-footed after taking off your shoes, the stones in the middle of the mosque are superheated, and painful to walk on - even through socks it's not comfortable! There isn't a lot to do here, as such, but it is an interesting place, nonetheless. There's even less to do if you aren't a man, or with one, as some parts of the mosque are not open to unaccompanied women - you can't climb the towers without one. We went on our first day in India, just before the monsoon broke. Delhi was ridiculously hot, and we obviously weren't the only ones to think so! The mosque was crowded with women and small children, keeping out of the sun - we spoke to a few of the women, who knew some English, and learnt about Delhi and its people. You must be suitably dressed here - no bare legs or arms, and your head needs to be covered (a sun hat is fine.)

From journal Delhi - exciting, vivid, and hot!

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