Mosques of Northern India serve as the religious centres for the prevalent Islam in this region of the country. Built in ancient times, these mosques have still retained their elegance and charm owing to the excellent care that had been bestowed on them. The mosques are adorned with beautiful Islamic elements and inscriptions and are popular pilgrimage centres for the people of the whole country.
Mosques of Punjab
Famous mosques of Punjab enlist Moorish mosque situated in Kapurthala. The mosque was built during the rule of Jagatjit Singh, the last Maharaja of Kapurthala. The temple has a beautiful architecture with its inner wall adorned with artworks from the Mayo School of Arts, Lahore. Another mosque is Mubarak Mosque located in Qadian. It was established by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in 1882.
Mosques of Haryana
Haryana also house a number of mosques. Aliwardi Masjid is an ancient mosque built almost 200 years ago. Situated near Gurgaon, the mosque was built by Nawab Aliwardi Khan who also owes the credit of finding the Aliwardi village. Another mosque is Humayun`s Mosque built during the reign of Humayun, Mughal Emperor. Kabuli Bagh Mosque was built by another Mughal Emperor, Babur. It was erected in 1526 AD after the Mughal victory over Sultan Ibrahim Lodi in First Battle of Panipat. Lat ki Masjid is an ancient mausoleum built by Feroz Shah Tughluq. The mosque is a beautiful example of Tughluq architecture. Magnificent stone pillars and geometrical and floral motifs are the most attractive features of this mosque. Pathar Masjid was built in 17th century and is renowned for its fluted minarets made of red sandstone attached to the back wall of the mosque.
Mosques of Uttar Pradesh
Some of the most prominent mosques of the country are also located in Uttar Pradesh. Bara Imambara, located in Lucknow, was constructed by the Nawab of Lucknow, Asaf-ud-Daulah, in the year 1784. It is one of the most admirable monuments of Lucknow. Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques of the country. It is situated in Agra, opposite to Agra Fort. It was built in 1648 by Shah Jahan in the honour of his favourite daughter Jahanara Begum. Atala Masjid is a 15th century mosque situated in Jaunpur, famous for its ancient artefacts. Jami Masjid is also located in Jaunpur . It was built by Hussain Shah. Gyanvapi Mosque belongs to the Mughal period built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In Agra, Moti Masjid stands exhibiting architectural wonders. The mosque was built by Shah Jahan. Sir Syed Masjid is situated in Aligarh. The architecture of the mosque is stunning, attracting a number of tourists.
Mosques of Jammu and Kashmir
Islam is prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir and a number of mosques have been established in this region too. In Srinagar, Jama Masjid is situated which is the most significant mosque of this region. The mosque was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. Hazratbal Mosque is located along the bank of Dal Lake. The architecture of the mosque represents a blend of Kashmiri and Mughal styles of architecture. Charar-i-Sharief is an ancient mosque built around 600 years ago. Other mosques of Jammu and Kashmir enlist Baba Reshi Shrine, Ziarat Baba Buddan Shah, Patthar Masjid, Masjid of Akhund Mullah, Khanqah-e-Mola etc.
Mosques of Rajasthan
Impact of Islam can also be seen in Rajasthan through various mosques. Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is one of the most important Muslim pilgrimage centres in the country. It was built by the Mughals and is symbolic of secularism. In Ajmer, Jama Masjid is located which is considered as the most stunning mosque of Rajasthan. It is in fact situated inside the campus of Dargah of Ajmer and enhances the beauty of the Dargah manifold. Adhai Din ka Jhonpra is popular for its splendid architecture which is a fusion of Indo-Islamic styles.
The architecture that frames the Mosques of Northern India is a visual treat. Some of these mosques exhibit a fusion of Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture which enhanced the beauty even more. Different artistic elements have been used to embellish the interiors of the mosques. Apart from being the religious centres, they also stand as the monuments of national importance as they immensely contribute to the national and cultural heritage of the country. These mosques also serve as famous tourist destinations.
