Jama Masjid
The Masjid-i Jehan-Numa, commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656, and inaugurated by its first Imam, Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari. The construction of the mosque cost about 10 lakh rupees at that time. Situated in the Mughal capital of Shahjahanabad (today Old Delhi), it served as the imperial mosque of the Mughal emperors until the demise of the empire in 1857. The mosque predominantly uses red sandstone, and is set apart from its predecessors by a more extensive usage of white marble. Black marble also features as a decorative element.
Arabic and Persian calligraphic pieces are found on various surfaces of the structure, whose content ranges from religious to panegyric. Having been built on a hill, the mosque can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. The Muslims of the city traditionally gather here to offer communal Friday prayer, as well as for major festivals such as Eid. The mosque is also a major tourist attraction, and derives a significant amount of income through the visits of foreigners.
- Jama Masjid
- Location: Delhi
- Country: India
- Accommodate: 25,000 worshippers
