Jami Masjid, Agra, Uttar Pradesh India

Agra was the capital of India at the time of the Moghuls in the 16th & 17th centuries. However Shah Jahan is the Moghul Emperor inevitably connected with Agra.

Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1648 as a tribute to his favorite daughter Jahanara Begum, Jama Masjid is also popular by the name of Jami Masjid or Friday Mosque.

It is built with red sandstone and decorated with white marble in simple design. The walls and ceilings of the shrine are covered with blue paint. It is one of the largest mosques in India and is situated in the centre of the city opposite to Agra Fort railway station.

The mosque stands upon a high platform and can be entered through five arched gates. It has three large domes made of red sandstone. The walls of the shrine are decorated with inlaid geometric figures in colored tiles and calligraphic engravings.

The central courtyard of Jama Masjid is so large and capacious that it can accommodate 10000 devotees for prayer at any time. It also hosts the tomb of the great Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chisti in its premises.

Jami Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. Built in 1571 A.D., it is the most scared building in Fatehpur Sikri and has, therefore, been built on the highest point. The mosque has a vast courtyard. Towards the corner on the right side, is the Jammat Khana hall and next to which is Zenana Rauza, the Tomb of the Royal Ladies.

It has tomb of Islam Khan, and Sufi shrine or 'dargah'. The tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti is worth seeing. Originally it was built in red stone and was later faced in marble by Jahangir. It's lattice screens are the most intricate and beautiful in the world.

Jama Masjid is beautifully decorated with paintings, inlaid stones, carvings and glazed tiles. The building comprises of pillared Dalan, a beautiful 'Chhajja' and the 'Chhatri' on the roof. The main Iwan of the building is rather simple and contains a central arch with geometrical designs.

The monumental gateway, Buland Darwaza is the main entrance to the mosque. The other entrance is Badshahi Darwaza, which is towards east.

The siting of the Jama Masjid marked the actual beginning of the city which came up around it. The palace courts were laid out parallel to the cardinally aligned mosque and the sequential order of the palaces were emphasized by change in level. The most public space was at the lowest level, while the royal harem was at the highest. 

Jama Masjid in Agra is opposite the Agra Fort and overlooking the Agra Fort Railway Station. The Jama Masjid is also popularly known as the Jami Masjid or "Friday Mosque". It is one of the larger mosques in India. The Mosque was built by Shah Jahan in 1648 and dedicated to his favourite daughter, Jahanara Begum. There was a spacious, octagonal Tripolia Chowk which existed between the Jama Masjid and the Delhi gate of the Agra Fort. This Tropolia was destroyed in order to create the Agra Fort Railway Station. The cloisters have engrailed arches supported on pillars.

The main entrance is through the eastern side. The prayer chamber has a façade with a broad arched iwan in its centre and is adorned with slender turrets alternated with kiosks. Its dome is the largest and highest of the three domes crowning the sanctuary. All the bulbous domes have inverted lotus and kalash finials on the top and have narrow zigzag courses of white marble alternated by broad bands of red stone. There is a fountain with four kiosks in its corners in the centre of the courtyard. The interiors of the western wall have a beautiful mihrab and pulpit in white marble. The Persian inscription in white marble inlaid with black stone on the archway of the central portal is in praise of Jahanara and Shah Jehan.

The pristine beauty of the mosque must have been awesome as indicated by its comparison with Baitul-Mamur, the fabulous mosque of rubies and pearls situated in the fourth sky. It is said that once surrounded by a market place called Tripolia set in an octagonal (Muthamman) Chowk that was built between the Delhi Gate and the Jami Masjid. But, it was later destroyed in 1871-73 to acquire space for laying down the railway tracks for the city. It required six years and 5,000 workers to finish.It was made by using red sandstone and marble.