Development Started: 1644
Development Completed: 1656
Cost of Construction: Ten lakh rupees or one million Indian rupees
Who Built It: The monarch of the Mughal empire, Shah Jahan
Continued By And Kept Up By Delhi Waqf Board
Where is it Located: Sample: Delhi India
Structure Type: Mosque
Measurements: is 80m in length; 27m in width; 41m at the highest point of the structure’s height.
Materials Used: Red sand-stone, marble.
Structural Style: Islamic
Planner : Ustad Khalil
Limit: 25,000
Visit Timing: 7:00-12:00, 13:30-18:30, a whole working days of the week
Section Fee: Free entry, Rs 200 to 300 in photography fee and Rs 100 for climbing the southern minaret.

The Jama Masjid is amongst the biggest mosques in India and is situated in the Old Delhi or Delhi’s Shahjahanabad. Masjid-i-Jahan or Numa is one of the largest and most magnificent samples of the Mughal style which expresses the Islamic spirit in architecture of India. Constructed in the early 17th century, the mosque was commissioned to build by the fifth Mughal emperor SHAH JAHAN after whom it is named after and is perhaps the most visited mosque by tourists in India.

History:

Jama Masjid was built in the year 1650 and the construction was finished in 1656. This was constructed by the Mughal emperor named Shah Jahan who also constructed the Taj Mahal in Agra. The mosque was constructed by the famous architect Ustad Kheil who designed the Red fort another Mughal structure in New Delhi.

Construction of the mosque, which was initiated in the 1980s, was completed in six years and as a result of the work of more than 5,000 people. It has been constructed out of red sandstone and white marble from the outside and inside The mosque has three domes, two minarets and four towers. The mosque has a capacity of housing 25000 people at any one time .

Architecture:

The design architecture of Jama Masjid is Mughal-Persian-Indian style which was quite popular in those times. The mosque is constructed with three gates, while the east gate opens to the national highway, the second gate opens to the northern side and the third is on the southern side. Public gate is that of the east and is larger than the other gates. The other two gates are only used by the mosque’s shepherds, these are the gates that are closer to the main masque as shown on the diagram.

By its layout the mosque has a central rectangular courtyard with a stair which has an arcade with arches around it. The courtyard over which the construction is done is of a marble and has a capacity of 25000 people for prayer at a time. This mosque has three domes one being central and there are two other domes that are comparatively smaller than the central one. The domes are made of marble and some of them are of special patterns and designs.

The mosque also has two minarets which are 40 meters in height with the exterior of red sandstone and white marble. The minarets have balconies on their top and they also have stairs which leads inside the minarets spirally. /It is also possible to climb to the top of the minarets to make some sort of a bird’s-eye view of Old Delhi possible./

On the sea front side, there is a large one-storied construction of the mosque and inside it there are some marble pillars on which the roof rests. These pillars have very beautiful carvings with inscriptions from the Quran on their surface. It also has a very expansive or rather a very humongous prayer hall that could hold up to twenty five thousand worshippers at any one time.

It also contains some artifacts of Islamic history such as the hair of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), a pair of sandals used by the Prophet and a copy of the Holy Quran that was written by the Prophet ’s grandson.

Religious Significance:

Jama Masjid is one of the most popular mosque located in India and it is very much important for the Muslim community. This is the largest mosque in the city of Delhi and can hold sizeable congregation of people. The mosque receives a lot of traffic especially on Fridays since this is the day on which Muslims consider to be holy.

This mosque contains many Islamic antiques such as the hair of the Prophet Muhammad, his sandal and a copy of the Quran written by the Prophet’s grandson. Kept with the utmost care by Muslims, these relics are an important aspect of the mosque, and its story.

It also has a seminary called madrasa in which it provides education in Islamic studies and Islamic theology. The madrasa is about 500 years old and has nurtured Islamic scholars and scholars of Islamic studies.

Visiting Jama Masjid:

The Jama Masjid is accessible to the public any time of the year and any day of the week but not during praying time. The Mosquito is opened daily from sunrise till sunset any person visiting is advised to dress appropriately and remove their shoes upon entry into the Mosquito.

One can also climb atop the minarets to have a bird’s eye view of the old city of Delhi. The climbing is quite stiff and people interested in the activity should physically fit. In case the visitor is dressed inappropriately he or she can hire a robe in the mosque.

Jama Masjid is in the old Delhi and travelling to the site can be easily done by bus or autos. The Chawri Bazaar Metro is the nearest station and it is about half a kilometer away from the site.

Important Features of Jama Masjid:

Jama Masjid which is situated at Old Delhi is considered as one of the largest mosque in India. Constructed by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 17th century hold India’s cultural and architectural value. Located in an area of 1200sqmeters it is a very popular place in Delhi and among tourists. Here are some of the important features of Jama Masjid:Here are some of the important features of Jama Masjid:

Architecture: Jama Masjid is one of the splendid examples of the Mughal architecture. The tomb is made of red sand stone and white marble and indicates of Iranian and local Mughal architecture. It has three massive domes which are made of white marbles and Two minarets that are forty meters high. The building has also features carved designs and calligraphy works around the entire compound.

Courtyard: The courtyard of Jama Masjid is an open place which is quite large enough that it can house up to the excess of twenty five thousand people at any one time. The outer area has a red sandstone flooring and is enclosed within a rectangle shaped wall. It has archPriests walking around this glorious structure and it is enclosed with arched cloisters all around it giving the worshippers cool and a shade.

Prayer Hall: Jama Masjid is one of the prominent mosques of Delhi and its prayer hall is one of the biggest in the country. It has the capacity to hold up to 10000 people at a single time especially during the worshiping time. The hall has been divided into three parts by two rows of pillars and each part of the hall has a large dome situated on it. The walls of the prayer hall are also designed with a tendency to calligraphy as well as floral designs.

Mihrab: The mihrab more often than not stands as one of the most significant architectural elements in a mosque. It is a small hole in the wall which shows the direction to ka’aba, which is in Mecca, the most sacred place of Muslims. This mihrab of Jama Masjid is also of white marbles with floral designs inscriptions on it. Serving as the central area of the prayer hall, it occupies the most honorable position of a mosque.

Minarets: Jama Masjid has all together two minarets and both of them are a forty meters high. The minarets are built from red sandstone and white marble and they are parted by balconies at different stories. The minarets also add beauty to the mosque and also guide people in identifying the mosque from a distance.

Calligraphy: Being an integral part of Islamic art, calligraphy is widely used in Jama Masjid The walls of Jama Masjid contains the beautiful work of Arabic calligraphy. The artwork of calligraphy is sharp and well done and the workmanship is commendable since it enhances the beauty of the mosque.

Shahi Imam: The Jama Masjid has what is known as the Shahi Imam, they are the spiritual head of the mosque. Syed Ahmed Bukhari is the present Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid. He performs the function of Sheik, in the mosque and leads the Friday prayers in addition to maintaining the mosque.

Tourist Attraction: It has become one of the most famous tourist destinations in the city of Delhi . People from different parts of the globe risk visiting the site to appreciate the architectural work as well as history of the mosque. It is interesting to visit the mosque as a tourist during the morning from 7 in the morning to 12 in the midmorning and in the evening from 1.30 p.m. to 6.30p.m. It is mandatory for visitors to dress appropriately, and part with their shoes before getting into the mosque.

Jama Masjid in Delhi

How to reach Jama Masjid :

Nevertheless The Jama Masjid is located in the southern part of old Delhi and has access to several parts of the city. Here are some ways to reach Jama Masjid:Here are some ways to reach Jama Masjid:

By Metro: The closest metro station to Jama Masjid is Chawri Bazaar Metro Station and it falls on the Yellow Line of Delhi Metro. Auto-rickshaw is also available from the metro station, which takes one to the gates of the mosque or one can walk as well.

By Bus: There are some buses which are operating both DTC and other private Buses plying within the area. Many buses are available to take Jama Masjid to different places of the city.

By Taxi or Auto-Rickshaw: Auto-rickshaw and taxi facilites are not a problem in Delhi at all. People can travel in taxis or auto- rickshaws from any corner of the town to get to Jama Masjid.By Car: There is also road transport by car and one can use this to get to Jama Masjid. However, the availability of parking space is scarce and it is wise to leave your car in the parking near the mosque then walk in.

Before ending this discussion on Jama Masjid, there is one fact you need to know, which is that Jama Masjid is situated in the crowded area of Old Delhi and roads leading to the mosque, are often choked with traffic during rush hours. The best thing is to plan the visit in advance and also, it is better to spare more time for travelling.