Moti Masjid, Delhi, Marble mosque in Red Fort, Delhi, India
Moti Masjid is a small white marble mosque inside the Red Fort complex in Delhi. Three rounded domes crown the prayer hall, whose walls display fine floral carvings and whose windows are sheltered by pierced stone screens.
Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, built this mosque between 1659 and 1660 as a private prayer space. It served only the emperor and his closest court members within the imperial palace complex.
The name translates as Pearl Mosque and refers to the milky white marble that shines in sunlight. Men and women enter the courtyard through separate gates, as practiced in many Indian mosques for centuries.
Access is available during Red Fort opening hours, usually from sunrise until late afternoon on most days. The mosque sits in the rear section of the fort and can be visited after passing through the main entrance gates.
The mosque was originally reserved only for the emperor and remained closed to the rest of the court. Inside the courtyard stands a cleansing pool that was used for ritual washing before prayer.
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