Jami masjid

jami masjid ahemedabad

1. Jami Masjid Ahemedabad Presented by- Preeti Gautam Ridhi Saxena

2. Introduction It is also known as “ jumma masjid ” Location – Ahmedabad Built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in A.D. 1423. Architectural type – mosque Architectural style - Indo-Islamic architecture Materials used - Yellow sandstone and marble It is designated as NHL -National Monument of Importance due to its magnificient features. At the west side of the Mosque there are three tombs of Sultan Ahmed Shah I, his son Mohammad Shah and his grandson Ahmed Shah Rauza . The tombs of the queen and other wives of emperor ( Rani Ka hazira ) are also lying nearby.

3. History and Importance In the period when it was constructed, it was the largest mosque of India. It took around 16 years for construction. The architectural design of the mosque is very unique as it has its entrance from three different directions. Architecture of jama masjid is a blend of hindu and muslim styling. Most of the architectural effect is concentrated in the santuary .

4. Architectural features Courtyard The mosque complex on a large rectangular courtyard 75m long x 66m wide. Courtyard is lined with a colonnade on three sides In the centre of the courtyard is the rectangular basin for ablutions The flagged courtyard is 255 feet. The wide open courtyard, floored with white marble, is ringed by a colonnade painted with giant Arabic calligraphy making a walk through the hall a beautiful maze of light and shadows,

5. Ablution tank

6. Prayer hall Rectangular in plan and covered by four vaults. The prayer hall occupies the fourth east side. It consists of 15 domes making a walk through the hall a beautiful maze of light and shadows. supported on 260 columns. The columns are symmetrically arranged to form 15 bays across the long axis of the hall The prayer wall known as “ qibla “ is richly ornate . Prayer hall is floored with white marble

7. Dome The domes in the mosque are given various shaped like one of the domes is in the shape of lotus flower while the other seems like a hanging bell on the chain like structure very similar to the bells in any of the temple of Hindu community. The domes also reflect the architecture similar to the domes of the Jain temples.

8. Interior of dome

9. Pierced stone Pierced stone screens (the ‘ jalis ’ ) are placed between the two pillars of central openings

10. Entrance There are 3 entrances in the mosque To the eastern entrance stands the tomb of Sultan Ahmed Shah. The large central archway has a large moulded buttresses framed by two minarets on either sides. Two smaller archways are placed on either side of the central one together known as “Teen Darwaza ” The two principal minarets collapsed in the 1819 earthquake , but their lower portions still stand.

11. Minaret There are two main minarets in front of the main entrance , which were destroyed by the earthquakes of 1819 and 1957 It is highly carved

12. Sanctuary Interior: The sanctuary is a hypostyle hall is 210' X 95'. The central compartment of the nave rises up to 3 storeys, the side aisles are 2 storeys and the rest of the hall is single storeyed. The nave is composed of two pillared galleries one above the other. The enclosed triple height space which is overlooked from the galleries is  square in plan on the first floor and octagonal on the second and is covered by a dome.

13. Each overlooking balcony is provided with an asana  or a sloping backed seat as seen in temples. Around the exterior of the balconies are pillared verandahs or loggias and in the arcade between the pillars are stone jalis through which the galleries are illuminated

14. Thank you