Lal Darwaza Masjid, Jaunpur, Islamic mosque in Begumganj, Jaunpur, India.
Lal Darwaza Masjid is a mosque in Jaunpur, completed in 1447 by Queen Bibi Raji, wife of Sultan Mahmud Sharqi. It has three gateways, the eastern one being the largest and most important. The name comes from the vermilion-painted gateway of the queen's adjacent palace. Stones from demolished temples in Varanasi were used in its construction.
Bibi Raji, queen of Sharqi sultan Mahmud Sharqi, built the mosque in 1447 as her private place of worship, next to her palace. Its stone was brought from Varanasi, partly from temples demolished near the Vishwanath temple in 1296. An inscription records repairs in 860 AH, and the mihrab was renewed in 1409 AH.
The name comes from the vermilion-painted gateway of Queen Bibi Rajye's palace that stood beside the mosque; the quarter around it is still called mohalla Laldarwza or Begum Ganj. Bibi Rajye founded the Jamia Hussainia madrasa nearby, which still exists, and a school for girls' education at Jaunpur in 845/1441. Descendants of the saint to whom the mosque is dedicated live in Bazaar Bhua Pandariba and Namaz Gah Laldarwaza.
The mosque sits a few kilometers from the railway station and is accessible by local transport options. Visitors should know that the site follows religious customs and one should enter the interior with respect for ongoing worship.
The name comes from the vermilion-painted gateway of Queen Bibi Rajye's palace, which stood beside the mosque; the area is still called mohalla Laldarwza or Begum Ganj. The mosque has three gateways, and the eastern one is the largest and most important.
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