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| About Jama Masjid |
| Built in 1656, Jama Masjid is the country's
largest mosque in India, where thousands of Muslims offer prayers.
Jama Masjid lies opposite the Red Fort and is surrounded by
a large number of shops, which deal in a variety of goods. The
great mosque of Old Delhi is both the largest in India and the
final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan with a courtyard
capable of holding 25,000 devotees. |
| Built by Shahjahan, the massive Jama Masjid
can hold about 20,000 worshipers at a time (Drive past). Located
close to Chandni Chowk (one most vibrant shopping region in
Delhi) and the colossal Red Fort, the mosque receives large
number of visitors coming to Delhi. |
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| The Architecture |
| A religious masterpiece, Jama Masjid is also
known as 'Masjid-i-Jahan Numa', 'Jahan' means 'World' and Numa
means 'Visible'. Designed as Emperor Shahjahan's principal mosque,
the masjid is built in red sandstone. White marble has also
been used extensively, specially in the three domes and has
been inlaid with stripes of black. |
| The vast paved courtyard is a rectangle nearly
75 metres by 66 metres. The whole of the western chamber is
a big hall; standing on 260 pillars all carved from Hindu and
Jain traditions. The central courtyard is accessible from the
East, though there are three ways on the other side too. Built
by a workforce of 5,000 people, the mosque's three gateways,
four towers and two minarets are testimony to the fine architecture
of that period. |
| Tourist Information |
| Visiting
Time: Daily dawn-dusk; closed during prayer
times. |
| Entry
Fee: Entry is free but tourists must pay
Rs100 if carrying a camera. |
| Went
To Visit: Between October to March is
the best time, but being a religious monument it can be visited
at any time of the year. |
| Note
: Please open your shoes before entering
the mosque. The shoe wallah should be tipped Rs10. |
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