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Zinat-ul Masjid |
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| Located on Khairati Ghat, Ansari Road along the
walls of Shahjahanabad in Daryaganj, opposite Shakti Sthal and
south of Red Fort, Zinat-ul Masjid is also known as 'Ghata Masjid'.
Built in 1707 AD by Zinat-ul-Nissa Begum, the daughter of Emperor
Aurangzeb, the mosque is said to be a replica of the magnificent
Jama Masjid on a smaller scale. The main features of this beautiful
mosque are its sky touching minarets, Kangura battlements and
its alternative strips of white and black marble on the domes.
The mosque is a protected monument as it is of considerable
architectural merit. |
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| The mosque has a large courtyard, which is built
on a raised platform. Beneath the courtyard there are over 12
basement chambers, which were used for various purposes. It
also has a tank in the center, which is no longer in use. The
main entrance of the courtyard is from southern side while the
northern side entrance remains closed. The walls of the mosque
are built of random rubble and dressed stone while the floor
is constructed with red sandstone. The two towering minarets
are made mainly of red sandstone. Surmounted by three bulbous
domes, the prayer chamber of the mosque consists of seven arches.
There was also a tomb in the courtyard where Zinat-ul-Begum
was buried in 1711 AD. The British removed the tomb after the
1857 war when they used the mosque for military purposes. |
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