Mosques of Mughal influenced Lahore
Mughals have left behind immense culture, literature, and architecture. One such treasure includes Mosques the Mughals have built all around Lahore. Huge entrances, beautiful craftwork, fascinating glasswork, and ancient Persian and Hindu art are what make Mughal architecture one of its own kind. For the ones interested in seeing what the Mughals have left in the city of gardens, let us guide you on your next trip to Lahore.
10 Must Visit Mosques in Lahore
It is noteworthy to mention that the existence of these historical sites has increased the demand for houses for sale in Lahore. Jagahonline will help find one for you. Below mentioned are some must-visit Mosques that will surely make your Lahore trip a little convenient. Without further ado here’s a list of some of the most noticeable mosques present in Lahore:
- Oonchi masjid
- Begum Shahi Mosque
- Dai Anga masjid
- Moti Masjid
- Wazir Khan Mosque
- Masjid M. Saleh Kamboh
- Badshahi Mosque
- Sunehri masjid
- Shab Bhar Masjid
- Grand Jamia Mosque
Let us help you shed some light on them:
Oonchi Masjid
The architecture of the mosque shows no sign that indicates the time period it was initially built in. Emperor Akbar built the mosque as per the stories. The mosque was named “Oonchi” as it is built on a highland.
Begum Shahi Mosque (1614)
The mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum is the early surviving example of Mughal architecture built around 1614. Emperor Shah Jahn built the mosque in memory of his late mother, Maharani Jodha Bai. Sikhs at their influential period renamed the mosque Shaheed Ganj Bhai Mani Singh.
Dai Anga Masjid (1635)
Dai Anga was highly respected in the royal court as she performed midwife duties at the time of the birth of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Her family closely served the empire as his son was martyred fighting for the Empire. The mosque was commissioned by Dai Anga herself and is said to be built before she left for Hajj.
Moti Masjid (1635)
This 17th Century mosque is located inside Lahore fort.
The masjid is built using white marble and contains three superimposed domes. Construction started in 1630 and was completed in the winters of 1635. Later the masjid was in use by Sikhs and they renamed it “Moti Mandir”. The mosque was also used as a treasury by Ranjit Singh of Lahore.
Wazir Khan Mosque (1641)
The governor of Lahore, Wazir Khan himself ordered the mosque in 1634 and the construction stretched longer than the expected time and was finally completed in 1641. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is said to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque.
Masjid Muhammad Saleh Kamboh (1659)
Emperor Aurangzeb built the mosque, inspired by the Shahjahani architecture. Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, historian to the royal court in Shah Jahan’s regime built this mosque. Named after the governor of Punjab, the mosque has three separate domes. The governor of Punjab was also a commander of 500 men and had written ShahJahanama.
Badshahi Masjid (1673)
Carved red sandstone with marble inlay, even the exterior of the mosque illustrates how finely the art flowed at that time. Its construction started in 1671 looked after by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s foster brother and was remarkably completed in 1673. Its massive capacity can hold crowds of up to 100,000 people. The mosque consists of 3 huge Domes and 8 minarets, 4 of which are major.
Sunehri Masjid (1753)
Sunehri means Golden, it is also known as Talai Mosque named after its gilded domes. It is a late Mughal-era architecture built in the 18th Century. Built towards the end of the Mughal Empire did not get to see it at its peak.
Shab Bhar Masjid (1917)
“Shab Bhar” is an Urdu proverb that means “a whole night”. There was an issue of ownership between the Muslims and the Hindus, thus the case was presented in front of the British and a judge was appointed to solve the matter.
However, before the matter could be solved, Muslims gathered after the Isha prayer and began the construction of the mosque. The construction was completed before the Fajr prayers. However, only the walls were raised, and the rest of the design was constructed later.
Grand Jamia Masjid (2014)
Pakistan’s third-largest mosque is located in the lavish housing society, Bahria Town Lahore. The mosque also happens to be the fourteenth largest mosque in the world and can hold about 70,000 worshippers at one time. Blue Mosque and the Badshahi Mosque have inspired the Grand Jamia Masjid of Lahore. The cost incurred in the construction of the mosque was around a massive 39 million USD, the huge dome beautifully captures one’s soul. Mr Malik Riaz brought architect Nayyar Ali Dada to design and complete the project.
If you are planning a visit to Lahore, its mosques are a must-visit site. The admirers of art and architecture always fall in love with Lahore. Keep coming to our blogs for more interesting and entertaining insights.
