Jama Masjid

User Review:

• Jama Masjid. Is the largest mosque in India. Located in old Delhi, (Shahjahanabad), built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal in Agra. Its a 17 century mosque that took 6 years to be built 1656. Its a beautiful architectural example of the that period and built with sandstone and white & black marble. The magnificent mosque stands 10 meters above the ground on a natural mound, has three gateways that can be ascended by sandstone steps takes one through the arched entrances , three white & black marble domes, two minarets. They is an open arcade on the edges of the courtyard between the gates, from where you can view the city & narrow lanes. The interesting feature of this mosque is that the, prayer hall similar to the one in Fatehpur Sikri, in the way it is forward from the arcade, making it stand in the courtyard and visually seem standing on its own / independently in the courtyard. Entry to the mosque is free except for a 200rs camera fee. I definitely recommend taking your camera as you will definitely get some great shots and compositions. The courtyard is said to hold 25000 people during the Friday prayers and at Id. The mosque can be visited outside of the prayer times. The Southern minaret can be climbed for fantastic view. However women can not go alone and need to be accompanied by a male relative / man. Standing at the eastern and main gate, one gets a lovely view of the Red Fort. This was the main gate and royal entrance. One can only imagine how grand & royal it must have been in the 17 and 18 centuries. But now it's mostly entered by the South gate(gate 3), near the car park. As one can visit the mosque after or before a rickshaw ride through the small alley way, 'galis' and lanes of Chandni Chowk and its adjoining streets.
• The description was provided by Shalmali Rao