Jama Masjit of Delhi

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student – Prabhleen Kaur
F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. - 04
 Introduction – Jama Masjid Delhi

Fig. 01 Map of India Showing Fig. 02 Current Map of New Delhi

Mughal Empire showing Jama Masjid

Year of Construction: 1656 CE

Dynasty/King: Mughal Empire, Emperor Shah Jahan Fig. 03 Satelite image of
Style of Architecture: Indo-Islamic style of Architecture Jama Masjid of Delhi

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student –- Prabhleen Kaur
F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. - 04
 History – Jama Masjid Delhi

• Masjid-i-Jehan-Numa commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is

one of the largest mosques in India.
• It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656,
and inaugurated by its first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari.
• Situated in the Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad (today Old Delhi), it
served as the imperial mosque of the Mughal emperors until the demise
of the empire in 1857.
• The Jama Masjid was regarded as a symbolic gesture of Islamic power Fig. 04 Mihrab Fig. 05 interior
across India, well into the colonial era.
• It was also a site of political significance during several key periods of
British rule.
• It remains in active use, and is one of Delhi's most iconic sites, closely Sketch or Photo
identified with the ethos of Old Delhi.

Fig. 06 Arial view of Mosque

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student –- Prabhleen Kaur
F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. - 04
 Architectural Facts & Characteristics

• It is claimed that the mosque was modelled after the Jama Masjid of
Fatehpur Sikri, and this is reflected in the design of many exterior features,
such as the facade and courtyard. However, the interior of the mosque
more closely resembles the Jama Masjid of Agra.
• The mosque predominantly uses red sandstone. Black marble also features
as a decorative element. Arabic and Persian calligraphic pieces are found on
various surfaces of the structure, whose content ranges from religious to
panegyric.
• Having been built on a hill, the mosque is situated on a plinth elevated 10 Fig. 07 Exterior wall
metres above the surrounding city.
• The complex is oriented to the west, towards Mecca.
• The mosque's domes are flanked by two sandstone minarets , at the
northeast and southeast corners, 40m high and longitudinally striped with
white marble. Each minaret consists of 130 steps, along which viewing
galleries occur at three places. Both minarets are topped with a marble
chhatri.
Fig. 08 Interior view of mosque

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student –- Prabhleen Kaur
F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. - 04
 Architectural Facts & Characteristics

• The mosque is accessed by three sandstone gates. The most prominent of

these is the three-storey high eastern gate, which historically acted as
the shahi (royal) entrance, reserved only for the use of the Emperor and his
associates. The other two entrances are the northern and southern gates,
which are two stories high and were used by the general population. Each
gate is accompanied by a three-sided sandstone stairway, with white
markings to designate prayer positions.
• The square sahn (courtyard, 99m long) is paved with red sandstone facing Fig. 09 Abulation tank
the eastern gate and can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. In its centre
lies a marble abulation tank (17m x 15m). Open arcades run along the
edges of the courtyard, through which the surroundings of the Masjid are
visible. Chattris mark the four corners of the courtyard, rising above the
arcades.
• The prayer hall measures 61m x 27m. Three marble domes rise up from its
roof, featuring golden finials. The interior of the hall bears
seven mihrabs (prayer niches) on the western qibla wall, corresponding to
the seven bays into which the hall is divided. Fig. 10 Balcony Detail

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student –- Prabhleen Kaur
F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. - 04
 Architectural Drawings (Plans, Elevations, Sections, Details, Sketches, Photos)

Fig. 11 Plan of Jama Masjid Delhi Fig. 12 Isometric view having labels of various parts of Mosque

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student -

F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. -
 Architectural Drawings (Plans, Elevations, Sections, Details, Sketches, Photos, Views)

Fig. 13 Elevation of mosque Fig. 14 North Gate

Hindu Temple Architecture, History of Architecture I Name of the Student –- Prabhleen Kaur
F. S. B.Arch. II, Department of Architecture, The M. S. University of Baroda Roll No. - 04