India is a Blessed Land. Which place in the world has so many exquisite living shrines of all faiths? 71 per cent of Indians visit a house of worship once in a month, according to data gathered by Pew Research Center. Of the estimated 450,000 notable Indian religious sites, 55,000 are mosques, quite a number of them showcasing our country’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.
They vary in size. Some mosques are incredibly spacious too, allowing thousands to pray side by side. On the joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which India celebrates with great fervour and unity, take in the beauty of the most splendid of these holy Islamic places of prayer.
Built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, the Bara Imambara is a significant monument of Lucknow. Famous for its grand central hall, one of the largest arched constructions in the world without support beams. It can accommodate around 300,000 worshippers.
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Nicknamed the Crown of Mosques, it is another enormous but glorious-looking mosque of India. Commissioned by Begum Shah Jahan of Bhopal in the 19th century, it has grand domes, towering minarets and a vast prayer hall, adorned with intricate Islamic calligraphy. Around 175,000 worshippers can offer namaz at the same time.
Located in the heart of Kashmir's capital, the masjid is an architectural gem commissioned by Sultan Sikandar Shah in 1394 AD. It is known for its 378 wooden pillars, Persian-influenced designs and a spacious courtyard. This mosque has been destroyed multiple times and then reconstructed.
Also called Masjid-i Jahān-Numā, Old Delhi's most gracious landmark, from 1656, is courtesy Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. 25,000 can pray together at the Jama. Built from red sandstone and white marble, it features three large domes, four towers, and two 40-m minarets.
Located in Punjab, it dates from the late 19th century and was constructed by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya movement. In its beautiful interiors as many as 15,000 can come together to pray. The centre of spiritual and educational activities for the Ahmadiyya community, it is an important place of pilgrimage for them.
The white-washed, sun-baked dargah at Haji Ali appears to be peacefully drifting out to sea, but is actually perched on an islet off the coast of the megapolis. Dedicated to Saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, once a merchant from Samarkand, who made his home in the Worli area, this Sufi shrine came up in the 15th century. It is accessible via a narrow causeway during low tide.
Called Jamiya Masjid too, its white marble façade, arched windows, fountains, soaring minarets, a 106-year-old clock and elegance make it famous. There is room at this mosque for 10,000 faithful to pray. Haji Qazi Abdul Quddus Saheb constructed it in 1790 but it was rebuilt/remodelled in 1940.
Considered an exceptional symbol of religious harmony, a church and a temple are its neighbours, reflecting Kerala’s pluralistic culture. A mosque has been standing at this spot since 1813 AD -- the original structure was first erected for the British Indian Second Regiment and over the years it was altered and rebuilt,.
In busy Chitpur, a relatively young mosque, built for Rs 1,500,000 in 1926, by a British firm, in the place of two much older mosques at the same location, it has the largest capacity in West Bengal. It took inspiration from Mughal emperor Akbar's Agra tomb and Rajasthani Dholpur granite was utilised in its construction.