Thousand Lights Mosque, Islamic mosque in Anna Salai, Chennai, India
Thousand Lights Mosque is an Islamic prayer house on Anna Salai with five minarets and multiple levels designed for prayer and community gatherings. The building displays traditional Islamic architectural features and serves as one of the city's most important religious structures.
The mosque was established in 1810 by Nawab Umdat-ul-Umrah and ranks among the earliest Islamic prayer houses built during British colonial rule in Chennai. It marks the start of organized religious infrastructure for Muslims in the city.
This mosque serves as a spiritual center for the Shia Muslim community in Tamil Nadu, where members gather for daily prayers and community events. Visitors notice the sense of devotion and fellowship that defines how people use this sacred space throughout the day.
Remove your shoes before entering and wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees out of respect for the sacred space. Women should bring a scarf to cover their hair when approaching the prayer hall.
The name comes from thousand oil lamps that once lit an assembly hall standing on this ground before the mosque was built. This detail reveals how the site served as a gathering place for religious purposes across generations.
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