Jama Masjid, Delhi

About Jama Masjid

One of the most renowned mosques, Jama Masjid is located west of Red Fort Off Netaji Subhash Marg in Old Delhi and is the largest mosque in India. It has a vast courtyard capable of holding almost 25,000 devotees. This great architectural edifice of Shah Jahan is highly decorative and ornamental with three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed out of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The mosque is open every day of the week from 7 am to noon and 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm. The tourists are not allowed during the prayer hours.

Architecture of Jama Masjid

Built using red sandstone and white marble in Indo-Islamic style of architecture, Jama Masjid is about 261 feet long and 90 feet wide. The structure is adorned with three huge arched gates, three marble domes, four minarets and two huge minarets.

It also has a spacious courtyard, which can hold up to 25,000 people to offer prayers at a time. Of the three entrances to the mosque, there are 35 steps on the eastern side as a result of which it is built.

Interesting facts about Jama Masjid

1. Jama Masjid is the second largest mosque in India which was built by Shah Jahan. It was the last architectural work of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is located in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi.
2. Its spacious courtyard is home to thousands of people who come to offer prayers at the mosque, it is mostly full on Fridays. The mosque has three entries, four minarets and two minarets and is built of red sandstone and marble.
3. Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan to promote unity in the world. It is also known as Masjid-e-Jahannuma which means the mosque that reflects the world.
4. The mosque measures 65 meters by 35 meters, its architecture is also influenced by Hindu and Jain methods in some parts.
5. There are different routes to reach the courtyard of Jama Masjid. There are 39 steps made of red stone to reach the courtyard from the north gate, 35 steps from the east gate which is also the main entrance to the mosque, and 33 steps from the south gate.
6. The steps of the mosque have been converted into books and food stalls. Meat is also sold in the mosque in its western area while books are sold in the southern part.

How to reach Jama Masjid