Badshahi Mosque, Mughal mosque in Lahore, Pakistan
Badshahi Mosque is a house of prayer built from red sandstone in Lahore, crowned by three bulbous domes and flanked by four corner towers. The rectangular courtyard opens toward the main prayer hall, framed by arched galleries on all sides.
The emperor ordered its construction in the late 17th century, and builders finished the work within two years under the supervision of a royal relative. During the 19th century, the building served briefly as a military garrison before returning to religious use.
The Urdu name means 'royal mosque', and the full imperial title, Masjid Abul Zafar Muhy-ud-Din Mohammad Alamgir Badshah Ghazi, is written in inlaid marble above the vaulted entrance. The courtyard holds up to 100,000 worshippers when used as an Idgah, and the prayer hall accommodates 10,000. A library inside keeps mostly scholarly books, including many Arabic commentaries.
The gateway faces east across the Hazuri Bagh toward the Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort, and the Roshnai Gate stands just south of the garden. Visitors pass through the main arch into the courtyard, where the 80 hujras line the walls as open arcades. Shoes come off before the paved floor, and shoulders and knees should be covered.
A small exhibition space near the entrance preserves old manuscripts, hair strands, and personal items attributed to the Prophet and his family. This collection draws pilgrims who come to view the relics up close and offer their respects.
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