About Jama Mosque Delhi: - The Jama Masjid was initially called by the name Jahan numa mosque. This mosque built on an elevated prominence not very far from the red fort is a beautiful blend of design and symmetry. This novel mosque design later became a sort of thumb rule for mosque architecture later in India, All the famous mosques built after the construction of Jama masjid appear to be following principles of Jama masjid architecture. The Badshahi mosque in Lahore which is three times the size of Jama masjid or the Tajul mosque in Bhopal are nothing but mere copies of the Jama mmasjid of Delhi.

Location of Jama Masjid Delhi: Situated in the old city of Delhi not very far from the red fort of Delhi is the Jama Masjid of Delhi, traditionally this area of Delhi was called as Shahjahanabad in the mughal times. The nearest metro station is the Jama masjid metro station.

Jama Masjid Timings: - For tourists is either early morning or the evening time as this area where the jama masjid is situated is highly congested. In your Delhi Tour Package you must remeber to visit this place early morning as traffic is less so a visit is easily planned and executed. Remember there is a time slot for non Muslims at this mosque. The non Muslims can only visit between 7-12 noon and then 1:30 pm -6:30 pm.

History of Jama Masjid Delhi: - Shahjahan the mughal emperor was a very devout Muslim, unlike his father Jahangeer he prayed fine times a day kept all the religious obligations. It was Shahjahan who had shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi, Shahjahan built a shahi mosque which today popularly is called the Jama masjid of Delhi.

Favorite daughter of Shahjahan “jehan ara” not only was a devout muslim but was murshid of sufi saint Moin Uddin Chisthi of Ajmer, She after the death of her mother Begum Mumtaj Mahal because the most important lady of the palace and infact is known to lead her father out of the mourning for Begum Mumtaj Mahal, her devout Islamic life and her importance sure was important for construction of Jama masjid and probably in her name the newly constructed grand mosque was also called Masjid-I-Jahan Numa.

On the highest altar of shahjahnabad the grand mosque was envisaged this project cost 1000000(one million) rupees and a total 5000 works men toiled for seven years between 1650-1656 The architecture is similar to Jama Masjid build just few years back at Agra. The architectural design is similar to mosques built earlier by the moghul emperors, the shahi mosque at fatehpur sikri –Agra is very similar to the design of Jama masjid at Delhi.

Jama Masjid Facts: - The mosques are always made with three domes in which the central dome is the largest the structure basically is a place to facilitate the congregation of muslims, who collect over to say the namaaz. The people collected always bow towards Mecca. In this part of India Mecca is towards west so the Namazees bow towards Mecca, the back of the mosque is towards west. There is a large courtyard in front of the domed structures, right in the centre of the red sand stone courtyard is a white marble clad “VuZu” tank -a tank where the devotees wash their hands and face before going for Salaah.

The mosque has three gates in respective three directions. The gate towards east is the highest, it is similar to Buland Darwaza of fateh pur sikri though not as grand and not as high but it was the marque of the power and might of the Mughal Empire. The east gate is approximately 3 stories from the adjoining areas. The flight of steps to the gate also paints a grand picture. The north and south gates are a little on the lower level. The arch in front of the central dome is the highest with multi cusped arch, turrets with lotus flowers on extreme ends of the arch. There are two striped minarets each rising to a height of 40 meters they were designed to say the Azaan. The minarets have spiral staircase and canopies on the top. The domes are done in white marble with stripes, inverted lotus and finials in gold on the top. On either side of the central arch are a series of small arches totaling five on either side. On extreme corners of the mosque are the small domes similar to the ones at Taj Mahal.

It was from the designs of Jama masjid the towers became an inseparable and essential part of the mosque architecture, this mosque is a beautiful blend of red sand stone and the white marble this had become a sort of signature Shahjehani style. The architecture is phenomenal and is perfectly symmetrical with its towering towers and domes.

Jama Masjid and National Integration:- Though jama masjid is a religious monument but during the British rule the common people used to gather at Jama masjid and discuss the future course of action of the revolution (freedom struggle).

Shahi Imam :- Since the time this grand mosque was built the chief priest always belonged to a family from Bukhara (Uzbekistan) the present chief priest of Jama masjid is a direct descendant of the first imam of the Jama masjid appointed by Shahjahan himself. Syed Abdul Ghafoor Shah Bukhari was first imam of the jama masjid. The diktats of the Shahi imam of Jama masjid are very important socially and politically even today.