Moti Masjid, Marble mosque in Agra Fort, India.

Moti Masjid is a prayer hall built entirely of white marble inside Agra Fort, featuring three domes positioned above the main prayer space. A rectangular courtyard lies in front with a central ablution pool and covered arcades running along its sides for shelter and processions.

Shah Jahan built the Moti Masjid between 1646 and 1653, later than his other Agra Fort works of 1627-1638, replacing earlier structures with marble. It was finished five years after the Mughal court moved to Shahjahanabad. Pleased with the result, he returned two years later with two of his sons to show them the mosque.

The name Moti Masjid, "Pearl Mosque", comes from the domes, whose sheen was likened to the lustre of pearls. Persian inscriptions in black marble run beneath the deep eave of the prayer hall, using complex imagery to glorify Shah Jahan and the mosque itself. The Russian source suggests the building was probably intended for members of his royal court.

Visitors reach the prayer hall by climbing elevated stairs on the eastern side of the courtyard to enter the main space. Remember to remove shoes before entering and dress respectfully when visiting this active place of worship.

Shah Jahan was so pleased with the finished mosque that he came back two years later to show it to two of his sons. The building was completed in 1653, five years after the Mughal court had already moved to Shahjahanabad, so the emperor's late addition to Agra Fort was admired by him in person.