Begumpur Masjid (Delhi)

India / Delhi / Tigri / Delhi
Begampur Mosque
The Begumpur Mosque, a vestige of the old city, of overall layout plan of 90 m (295.3 ft)x94 m (308.4 ft) size with the inner courtyard measuring 75 m (246.1 ft)x80 m (262.5 ft), is said to be patterned on an Iranian design planned by the Iranian architect Zahir al-Din al-Jayush. A majestic building in the heart of the city with a pride of place played a pivotal role of serving as a madrasa, an administrative centre with the treasury and a mosque of large proportions serving as a social community hub surrounded by a market area. It has an unusual layout with three arch covered passages with a “three by eight” deep nine bay prayer hall on the west. Construction of this mosque is credited to two sources. One view is that it was built by Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul Tilangani, Prime Minister during Feroz Shah Tughlaq’s rule, who was also builder of six more masjids (two of them in the close vicinity). The other view is that it was built by Tughlaq because of its proximity to Bijay Mandal and could probably be dated to 1351 A.D., the year Tughlaq died here. In support of the second view, it is said that Ibn Batuta, the chronicler of the period (till his departure from Delhi in 1341 A.D.) had not recorded this monument. The Mosque considered an architectural masterpiece (see pictures in gallery) has three gates, one in each of the three covered passages, in North, East (main gate) and South directions. The west wall which has the Mihrab, has Toghluqi style tapering minarets flanking the central high opening covered by a big dome. The entire passageway of the west wall has twenty five arched openings. The Mihrab wall depicts five projections. The prayer hall has modest decorative carvings but the columns and walls are bland. The eastern gate approach is from the road level up a flight of steps to negotiate the raised plinth on which this unique mosque has been built with a four Iwan layout. Stone chajjas or eaves can also be seen on all the four arcades. The Northern entry with 1 m (3.3 ft) raised entrance, probably linked the Mosque to the Bijayamandal Palace. The stucco plastering work on the mosque walls have lasted for centuries and even now show some tiles fixed on them at a few locations. The mosque was under occupation during Jahanpanah’s existence till the 17th century. In the later period, encroachers had occupied the mosque but were cleared by the ASI in 1921. A shuttered by lane entry from the north has been interpreted as an approach that was used by the womenfolk of the Sultan’s family for attending prayers in the mosque.[4][11][5][6]
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   28°32'21"N   77°12'22"E

Comments

  • Since when did it become a Mosque ?? I hope it's still classified as a heritage property or a tourist place and not under any illegal occupation.
  • This is Begumpur Mosque - built by the Tughlaqs - some where between 1350 and 1375 AD.
  • This is the famous Begumpuri Mosque - check out www.geocities.com/begumpurmasjid
  • Nice link Babs. From the pictures it's obvious it's still in the same shape as it was in the 50s and still protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. It sure looks like a structure older than the Moughal period. So, built in the Tughlaq period (14th century) seems right. But, was it built to be used as a Mosque or a fort ?? What does the Archeological Survey Of India "structure discription plate" at the entrances show ?? The structure is 300 X 300 ft. A huge structure. An equally big structure Khidki Masjid is about 3 KM away. Was Begampur or the area served by this Mosque, if it was a mosque, ever have enough population to justify it's use as a Mosque ?? The number of graves (.5 KM to NE) in the graveyard doesn't indicate enough Muslim population in this area in the past. On the other hand, it's usage as a Fort or a Royal resort (Begum's Qila or play station) seems more logical ?? I've heard it to be Begum's Bath house or swimming pool ?? Recall, there was a pond just about 200 ft to the North East. Anyway, it sure is an important middle age structure and needs to be maintained better than it is now (Pictures show falling debris piled up and structure in dire need of repairs). It even can generate tourism revenues. Note that it's an older structure than Red Fort.
  • Khidki Mosque, built about the same time, is just 1.5 KM away and not 3 KM as I said above. (30 min walk)
  • We visited this place and though it had a board saying it was a protected monument by the ASI there was no mention of the place's actual name
  • In the days of British Raj and in the days of Moughal rule, land ownerships, land surveys etc were recorded by "Patwaries". Those records sure must be available somewhere. These old structures need to be preserved & protected and their history documented. These ASI protected structures should have a historical description posted near the main entrances. No reason to let these historical sites go waste. These and other structures built 600 Yrs ago and ignored, where as in the Americas, a 150 year old dwelling and it becomes a revenue generating tourist attraction.
  • Some links describing Tughlaq era Mosques: http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/04/15/stories/2007041500210700.htm http://www.indiasite.com/delhi/places/begumpurimasjid.html http://www.indiasite.com/delhi/places/bijaimandal.html http://www.delhilive.com/page/begumpuri-masjid-200802112191 Quote: "during the more turbulent years of British rule in India, an entire village moved into the Begumpuri Masjid. The villagers had to be evicted in the early 1900s when the Archaeological Survey of India took over the monument." End Quote. Any one remember this event ??
  • why built this masjid guys ;i want to known . so any body ans me
  • Because it was the requirement of the Thughlaq times. Population were mainly followers of Islam and state also was Islamic.
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This article was last modified 14 years ago