TAJ-UL-MASJID
AT
BHOPAL
The literal meaning of
Taj-ul-Masjid is ‘The Crown of Mosques’ and it is located in Bhopal, the
capital city of Madhya Pradesh. Claimed to be the one of the tallest mosques in
Asia, this mosque was initially built during the Nawab Shah Jahan Begum (1844–1860
and 1868–1901) of Bhopal.
It
was still incomplete at the time of her death in 1901, after funds had been
diverted to other projects, and construction did not resume until 1971.
Fortress-like terracotta walls surround three gleaming white onion domes and a
pair of towering pink minarets. The mosque was given final touch in 1985.
The entrance gate is planned
with ancient designs taken from approximately 1250 Syrian mosques. The pink
facade of the mosque is topped by 18-storey high octagonal minarets brought out
with marble domes.
The double-storeyed gateway
is attached with four recessed archways and nine cusped multiple openings to
the main prayer hall. The Quibla wall is engraved with eleven arches and has
exclusive screens of trellis work.
It has a courtyard with a large tank in the
center. It has a double-storeyed gateway with four recessed archways and nine
cusped multifold openings in the main prayer hall.
The mosque also has three huge bulbous domes,
an impressive main hallway with attractive pillars and marble flooring
resembling Mughal architecture the likes of Jama Masjid in Delhi and the huge
Badshahi Mosque of Lahore.
There are 27 ceilings by arches supported by
monolithic pillars; many of the ceiling arches have ornate petals that make
them impressive. Yet another feature that may be worth mentioning is the
presence of a separate prayer hall for women. The annual three-day Ijtima
congregation held here is quite famous and attracts people from all over the
country.
By Air
The
nearest airport to Taj-ul-Masjid is raja
bhoj airport , bhopal which is 6 km away from Taj-ul-Masjid
By
Train
The
nearest railway station to taj-ul-masjid is Bhopal Jn Train Station which is 2 km away from Taj-ul-Masjid.
