JAMA MASJID (DELHI)

The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā the 'World-reflecting Mosque commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, and completed in the year 1656 AD, it is the largest and best-known mosque in India. It lies at the origin of a very busy central street of Old Delhi opposite to RED FORT, the Chawri Bazar Road. The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers.

The foundation of the historic Jama Masjid  was laid on a hillock in Shahjahanabad by fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shahjahan, on Friday, October 6, 1650 AD, (10th Shawwal 1060 AH). The mosque was the result of the efforts of over 5,000 workers, over a period of six years. The cost incurred on the construction in those times was 10 lakh (1 million) Rupees. Shah Jahan built several important mosques in Delhi, Agra, Ajmer and Lahore.Jama masjid has three gates ,four towers and two minarets of about 40 m height built by red sandstone and white marbles. The northern gate of the mosque has 39 steps. The southern side of the mosque has 33 steps. The eastern gate of the mosque was the royal entrance and it has 35 steps. These steps used to house food stalls, shops and street entertainers.

The mosque stands on a platform of about five feet (1.5 m) from the pavement of the terrace, and three flight of steps lead to the interior of the mosque from the east, north, and the south. The floor of the mosque is covered with white and black marble ornamented to imitate the Muslim prayer mat; a thin black marble border is marked for the worshippers, which is three feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. In total there are 899 such spaces marked in the floor of the mosque.

Tourists can enter the Masjid from the North or South gate and it is mandatory for both men and women to remove their shoes and cover themselves modestly, from head to toe.

VISITING TIME: On all days from Sunrise to Sunset

Summer/ Winter: 7.00 am-12.15 pm & 1.45 pm till sunset/ 8.30 am-12.15 pm & 1.45 pm till sunset.

ENTRY FEE: Free to all

HOW TO REACH JAMA MASJID

BY AIR:

Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi is directly connected to all the important cities in the world with all the majors in the airlines industry.

Palam Airport is the Domestic Airport which connects Delhi to the other cities of India. From both airports you can hire vehicles like taxi or auto rikshaw.

BY RAIL:

Being a capital, Delhi is very well connected to every part of India by train. Old Delhi, Hajrat Nijamuddin and New Delhi are the main railheads in Delhi. You have an exclusive option of metro railway to roam in the city for your fast moving nearest METRO STATION  is Kashmiri Gate metro station

BY ROAD:

By road you can come to Delhi by numerous bus options or taxi. All types of vehicles will take you here. You can hire a taxi, auto rikshaw or cycle rikshaw to reach Jama Masjid. You also have an option of public transport buses for cheaper way of transportation. 

Accommodation:
As the Jama Masjid is situated in the heart of the capital city of India, you are served with numerous options. In old Delhi i.e. around Jama Masjid you can get many low cost and medium cost hotels and lodges. If you head towards New Delhi, you can have numerous options of 3 star, 5 star and 7 star hotels.

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