Today I invite you to take a virtual tour with me in #JamaMasjid, Shahjahanabad: one of India’s largest mosque.
Let’s enter
Outside the #JamaMasjid in Mughal era there used to be a secular market & place to showcase the arts of the era. These included Dastango, jugglers etc
Notice the beautiful brass doors #JamaMasjid Delhi . The wood can be seen behind
Visitors are awestruck by the grandeur inside the gate itself
And then be prepared for your first look of the wondrous Jahan Numa Mosque #JamaMasjid
Though women can’t stand in between the jamat or congregational prayers ( during jamat they have to pray in the side galleries) at non jamat times no restrictions. I pray Zohar- the noon prayers.
There are other women praying too and no one was bothering them .
Namaz over I wander in the #JamaMasjid & notice the yellowing marble . In fact from far I had thought the inlay was brass they looked so yellow!
Young boys posing for selfies on the mimbar from where Imam gives Khutba.
Selfie craze seems to have driven us crazy
Though this chandelier is new it’s still magnificent . Would love to know what kind of lantern hung here under Shah Jahan
The central mehrab which denotes the Qibla for the namazi #JamaMasjid
I decide to climb the 40 m high minaret and go to the ticket window . The southern tower is open for visitors.
As I pay he asks me “only one ticket? ” I say “yes.”
“Well single women aren’t allowed ,”I’m told. “Show me where ,”I challenge the boy behind the ticket counter. I ask him laharo’n can a single woman do that a single boy won’t?”
He’s rattled and quickly issues me the ticket.
Near Gate no 3 there’s a small door which leads upto the Minar top. It’s dark & dingy but comfortable as in we can see well.
These first set of steps open onto the roof of the side gallery of the mosque. One has to walk the length of that to reach the central hall steps
I’m up on the second level, which is eye level with the domes. #JamaMasjid I notice the flat Bangla type roof near main arch. Must read at its architectural necessity
About 50 steps till the Minar. Then another 135 steep circular steps around a round pillar. They are very narrow and for one person at a time and no place to stop and take a breath. Thus very tiring.
I’m panting by the time I reach on top as there’s no place to rest & one can’t stop as not enough space for others to pass by . There are other older people resting on the top of the circular pillar. The youngsters are jumping about.
Breath back its back to breathtaking view from the top. Now there r grills but what must have been quite a view earlier. I can see all the way upto the Qila e Mubarak
Worth every bit of huffing and puffing lungs and groaning knees
Aah the symmetry! Every bit as close to my heart as Shah Jahan. I hate anything not being in proper place and symmetry .
The Mashriqi or Eastern Darwaza from the Minar with a view.
There’s quite a crowd and not enough space for all so I decide not be greedy & head down after few more shots .
Is this medieval graffiti in Arabic and Persian or just scratches?
I descend back to a more modern world
And I’m going down again
And back into the chaos of Matia Mahal
