Jama Masjid, Delhi, Principal mosque in Old Delhi, India
The Jama Masjid is the principal mosque in Old Delhi and was built with red sandstone and white marble. Three bulbous domes rise above the structure, and two slender minarets reach toward the sky, while a wide courtyard opens between the prayer halls.
The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned this structure after building several major monuments, and construction continued for over a decade until completion in 1656. The mosque was his final great project before imperial power began to decline.
Worshippers gather on Fridays for communal prayer in the courtyard, while smaller groups arrive throughout the week for daily rituals and moments of quiet reflection. Visitors sense the devotion of those who pray and the calm that settles over the space between the scheduled times.
Entry is available through three gateways that lead to different parts of the grounds, and visitors should dress modestly and remove footwear before entering. The structure remains open between prayer times, and guests should stay quiet and respectful during active worship.
The interior holds seven separate niches that face toward Mecca and guide worshippers during prayer. Persian calligraphy runs across the walls and arches, with inscriptions reproducing verses from sacred texts.
Location: Central Delhi district
Inception: 1656
Architectural style: Islamic architecture
Made from material: sandstone
Address: Meena Bazaar
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 07:00-12:00, 13:30-18:30
Phone: +911123365358
Website: http://jamamasjid.in
GPS coordinates: 28.65083,77.23306
Latest update: December 3, 2025 07:48
The neo-Moorish architecture developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by European interest in oriental forms. This architectural movement combines Western building elements with Moorish decorative motifs: horseshoe arches, carved arabesques, geometric mosaics, and ornate stuccoes. This stylistic synthesis appears in a variety of structures, from places of worship to private residences, theaters, and city fortifications. The collection gathers representative examples from across Europe and beyond. In Marseille, the Alcazar Grand Theatre has displayed a façade decorated with oriental patterns since 1857. The Great Synagogue of Brussels, inaugurated in 1878, demonstrates the adoption of this style in Belgian religious architecture. In Germany, Drachenburg Castle near Bonn incorporates Moorish elements into a late 19th-century villa. The movement also reaches unexpected locations: Brighton’s Royal Pavilion blends Indian and Islamic influences for a British royal seaside residence, while rural farms in Hälsingland, Sweden, include ornaments inspired by this orientalist trend. From Pena Palace overlooking Sintra to the Justo Sierra Synagogue in Mexico city, these buildings exemplify the international spread of an architectural style that profoundly marked its period.
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