Shah Jahan Mosque, Mughal mosque in Thatta, Pakistan
Shah Jahan Mosque is a structure in Thatta known for its 93 domes and surfaces covered in blue and white tiles. Geometric patterns decorate arches, walls, and ceilings around a central courtyard surrounded by columned arcades.
Emperor Shah Jahan ordered construction between 1644 and 1647 as thanks to the people of Sindh for offering him shelter. Completion fell during the late phase of Mughal rule over the region and marked the last major mosque built in Thatta.
The name honors the fifth Mughal emperor, while the turquoise domes and absence of minarets set the architecture apart from other mosques across the subcontinent. Worshippers use the shaded courtyard daily for prayer, with the tiled walls reflecting light and warmth in a soft blue tone.
The mosque sits in the center of Thatta, roughly 100 kilometers east of Karachi in Sindh province. Visitors can enter the courtyard and prayer halls outside prayer times, with the tilework showing best in daylight.
The domes create a natural echo that carries voices across long distances without any amplification equipment. This feature helped worshippers hear the call to prayer and sermons even from far corners of the courtyard.
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