Jama Masjid-Delhi-History, Freedom Struggle and Tour

Image Courtesy-Pixabay by Suhailsuri

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Jama Masjid, Delhi. Passing through the narrow congested lane with traffic of bikes, manually pulled rickshaws, buses and cars full of foreign tourists, old aged buildings, busy shops of buyers and sellers, vendors and mob of uncountable people, not far away from historic walled city of Red Fort, you will reach to Jama Masjid-Delhi.

The distance from Red Fort to Jama Masjid is almost 1000 yards. Such a place with old residential views and traditional shopping centers takes you in the older days. A visit to historical Jama Masjid becomes an unfading amazing experience for a tourist.

Jama Masjid at a glance:

Jama Masjid (built in 17^th century AD) is one of the most visited and a favorite attraction for foreign and Indian tourists in Delhi. Being a historical monument and Indian heritage building with beautiful Islamic architecture, the mosque is built in red sand stone and marble with lovely carvings and designs.
Jama Masjid was built as a house of prayer for Mughal Emperors and Muslims.
Jama Masjid, originally known as Masjid-e-Jahan Numa (World-view Mosque), started to build in 1650 AD by Mughal Emperor Shahabuddin Mohammad Shah Jahan. It took six years to complete (1650-1656 AD). Date and the name of the builder have been inscribed in the mosque on a piece of marble in Persian language.
This mosque was the part of Shahjahanabad city built by Shah Jahan, the Indian Mughal Emperor, located in Old Delhi.
The whole Mosque was built manually by skilled workers, engineers and laborers (from India and abroad) in a period of six years, providing jobs to thousands of people during those days.
Architecture of Jama Masjid is typical Islamic in feature having arches, minarets, domes and Arabic calligraphies inscribed.
This mosque was inaugurated by Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari in 1656 AD. It is interesting to note that the mosque was used for prayers by Mughal Emperors like Shah Jahan and others.
At present this is the one of the biggest mosque of India, accommodating 25000 people at a time, for offering Namaz especially on Friday and Eid Festivals.

Jama Masjid, Delhi, India. Image by jurgen Scheffler via Pixabay

Main feature of Jama Masjid:

Jama Masjid has spacious courtyard containing a lovely pool with a fountain in the center, a huge Prayer Hall, three domes on top of main building, two tall minarets, and three entry gates with steps in red sandstone. The water pool (or hauz) is used for wazu (cleaning hands, face and legs with water before Namaz) by worshippers.

Three huge entry gates are: (1) North Gate having 39 steps, (2) South Gate with 33 steps and (3) East gate with 35 steps. These steps and gates are the first attraction of Jama Masjid, adding a spectacular view and beauty to this mosque. If you can read Urdu, you can read more here by Sir Sayyed Ahmad Khan.
The main building of Jama Masjid (mosque) has three huge domes on its top made of white marble with strips of red sandstone.
Jama Masjid has two minarets at the end of Northeast and Southeast corners. The height of each minaret is 40 meters, and the minarets are longitudinally striped with white marble. Inside the minarets, there are stairs to reach on top. Each minaret contains 130 steps.

How to Enter in Jama Masjid Mosque of Old Delhi?

There are three huge and beautiful entry gates made of carved red sand stone in this mosque. You can use any one of these gates. I would recommend you to enter from South Gate if you are a tourist, since there is a parking of vehicle close to this gate.
As you reach to the entry gate using the steps, you are required to remove your shoes or slippers, since this mosque is a place of worship and is clean too. Generally, there is a guy at the gate, who will keep an eye at your shoes and sandals. A nominal amount of tip can be given to him as you return. The same gate should be used to enter and exit for the convenience.

Jama Masjid and First Freedom Struggle of India (The Revolt of 1857):

During The Revolt of 1857, many mosques in Delhi played a vital role as a center of assembly of Indian freedom loving people from all faith. And Jama Masjid was important among them.
As per the British perception, the revolt of 1857 was fueled and widely spread by Muslims leaders and supported and participated by people of India from all different faiths. British Empire also concluded that the mosques especially in Delhi were the main centers of inculcating, uniting and propagating the ideas of freedom during the revolt of 1856 against the British Rule. And Jama Masjid of Delhi was not exceptional to this. Read more here on Wikipedia.

This very Unity of Indian people of all religious faiths, posed a big danger to the then powerful British Rule. It was also against strategic policy of “Divide and Rule” of British in India, because Jama Masjid had become a place of unity and gathering for all faiths.
As a result, Jama Masjid was brought under direct control of the British rule after crushing the revolt, and the use of mosque was banned and barred even for the religious use.
There was a Madrasa (school) and a public hospital (with factory of medicine) close to Jama Masjid; both of those were destroyed during the Revolt of 1857.
Jama Masjid was finally returned to Muslim population in 1862, with multiple terms and conditions imposed by British rule.
After Independence of India from British rule on 15, August 1947, this mosque is an important place of prayer, tourism and visitors in Delhi.
Today, this mosque is used for five times prayer a day by common Muslims and is open for visit for tourists as well.

If you are coming to Delhi or planning for the same, a visit to Jama Masjid will be an amazing experience. This is big, bold and beautiful carved by hundreds of artists. Even the surrounding area of Jama Masjid is amazing, most lively place of Delhi to explore, indeed.

You may also like to read about a park that rejuvenates senses, Garden of Five Senses, in New Delhi.

For food lovers, areas around the mosque is heaven. There are many famous and traditional food outlets to try the verities of food. Food like biryani, kofta, curries, naan, paratha, seekh kabab, sizzling tikka kabab, qorma, butter chicken, street food and what not. You will also find refreshing drinks like sharbat, tea, coffee, fresh fruit juice, coconut water, and many more, that is served here with love.

Apart from Jama Masjid, there are other places like Qutub Minar and Garden of Five Senses quite famous as a tour destination in Delhi.

Also read about Qutub Minar, a 13th century world heritage site in New Delhi, India.

Jama Masjid Visiting Time:

You can visit Jama Masjid from 07: 00 AM to 06:30 PM all days of the year. Mosque is open for all tourists (men and women). Only during prayer time (for a short period), tourists are not allowed.