Moti Masjid, White marble mosque in Lahore Fort, Pakistan
Moti Masjid is a mosque in Lahore Fort, Pakistan, built entirely from white marble. Three domes rise above a rectangular prayer hall with five arches along the facade and geometric patterns on the interior walls.
The mosque was built in the 1630s on the orders of Shah Jahan, the Mughal ruler who also commissioned the Taj Mahal. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century it served temporarily as a treasury and lost its original function.
The name translates to Pearl Mosque and refers to the pale building material, which recalls the purity and value of precious stones. Verses from the Quran written in calligraphy decorate the walls and become visible through the open arches in daylight.
Access is through the main entrance of Lahore Fort, and the visit combines well with a walk through the other buildings of the fortress. Visitors should note that the mosque may be closed to tourists on Fridays before afternoon prayers.
The building sits on a raised platform in the western part of the fortress and is separated from most other structures by a wall. This arrangement created a private prayer space for the ruler and his family, away from official ceremonies and courtly activities.
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