Masjid Wazir Khan

The Masjid Wazir Khan is one of the beautiful, elegant and stunning mosques of the world and is a great landmark of architecture. Mosque of Wazir Khan is famous for its colorful fresco and tile decorations, both in its interior and exterior.

It was built in seven years, starting around 1634-1635 AD, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. It was built by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, a native of Chiniot, who rose to be the court physician to Shah Jahan and later, the Governor of Lahore. He was commonly known as Wazir Khan. The word wazir means 'Minister' in Urdu language. The mosque is located inside the Inner City and is easiest accessed from Delhi Gate.

Wazir Khan Mosque Beautiful View

In 1993, the Government of Pakistan recommended the inclusion of the Wazir Khan Mosque as a World Heritage Site in UNESCO's World Heritage List, where it has been included in Pakistan's Tentative List for possible nomination to the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

History

Wazir Khan Mosque was built by the Governor of the Punjab (1041/1632), Hakim Ali-ud-din (sometimes also referred to as Ilmuddin) in 1634. He belonged to the Punjab town of Chiniot on the banks of the river Chenab, Aliuddin had been employed by prince Khurram (later Emperor Shah Jahan) as a physician. He rendered great service to the prince during the various campaigns, and became one of the most trusted aides of the emperor, it was Aliuddin, along with Prince Shah Shuja, who was entrusted with the task of bringing the body of the deceased queen Mumtaz Mahal from Burhanpur to Agra to be buried in the Taj Mahal.

Wazir Khan Mosque in 1895

He was granted the title of Wazir Khan in 1620, he was raised to the mansab (title) of 5000 foot and 3000 horse (panj-hazari) on Shah Jahan's accession to the Mughal throne (1037/1628). It is the same Wazir Khan, who was entrusted with the building of the Khwabgah and Hammam-e-Badshahi in Lahore Fort, just before Shah Jahan embarked on his journey to Kashmir in the summer of 1634 from Lahore, his first visit to the Punjab capital after ascending the throne.

Architecture

Covering an overall area of 279 ° x 159', the mosque is entirely constructed in cut and dressed bricks laid in kankar lime with a scanty sprinkling of red sandstone in the gate and the transept. The courtyard is divided into two parts the upper part is about 6 cm higher than the lower with the ablution tank in the middle. The courtyard is flanked on its east, north and south sides by 32 small hujras of different sizes.

Wazir Khan Mosque Lahore Interior

The prayer chamber on the west side is divided into five compartments by massive piers bearing wide, four centered arches and each compartment is crowned by a dome. At the northern and southern ends of the prayer chamber, a small room has been contrived in the central portion while on the eastern end there is a gallery opening into the spiral staircase lending to the roof. The main structural features of distinction are the four corner Minarets, the five domes and transept at the entrance gate on the east.

Tiles on the walls of Wazir Khan Mosque

The material used in the construction of the Mosque is a small tile-like brick universally used by the Mughals when stone was unusable or too costly. The only stone used in the building is used for brackets and some of the fretwork (Pinjra). The walls were coated with plaster (Chunam) and faced with a finely-soft quality of the same material tooled to a marble-like surface and colored.

All the external plaster work was richly colored a rich Indian red, in true fresco, and the surface afterwards picked out with white lines in the similitude of the small bricks beneath. The extreme severity of the lines of the building is relieved by the division of the surfaces into slightly sunk rectangular panels, alternatively vertical and horizontal, the vertical panels having usually an inner panel with arched head or the more florid cusped mihrab. These panels, where they are exposed to weather, are generally filled with a peculiar inlaid faience pottery called kashi, the effect of which must have been very fine when the setting of deep red plaster of the walls was intact.

Shiraz_Hassan Colorful Geometrical Design, Wazir Khan Mosque

The facade of the sanctuary is practically covered with kashi and is divided into the usual oblong panels. A beautiful border is carried rectangular round the center archway, and inscriptions in Persian characters occur in an outer border, in a long panel over the archway, and in horizontal panels along the upper portions of the lower walls to right and left. The spandrels are filled in with extremely fine designs.

With the Minarets, however, the facade of the sanctuary, and the entrance gateway, where a small portion of the surface was left for plaster, the effect of the gorgeous colors against the soft blue of a Punjabi sky, and saturated with brilliant sunlight and glowing purple shadow is indescribably rich and jewel-like.

Areas

Right next to the entrance on both right and left sides are several small rooms that were originally designed to be shops. All shops were closed and locked but the veranda right outside each shop was very beautiful, especially the colorful ceiling.

Once you enter the mosque’s prayer area, you see a water pond for wuzu (ablution) in the center of the courtyard and a huge colorful mosque-building is visible at the other end of the courtyard. There are small rooms on both right and left sides of the courtyard that were closed and a couple were in use by the mosque administration, imam and the students.

Courtyard of the Wazir Khan Mosque

Quite interestingly, In the basement of the courtyard of the mosque is situated the shrine of the saint Syed Muhammad Ishaq Gazruni, who died in the 14th century. On close inspection, it was discovered that the grave visible on the ground level was fake and the real grave was underground, some 10 feet right below the dummy grave on ground.

Tomb of Syed Muhammad Ishaq, within Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore

On all four corners of the mosque are traditional high minarets. These minarets are also covered completely with colored patterns and tiles that are in their original pretty colors even after almost four centuries.

Location Coordinates Faith Category Started Date Completed Date Order to Construct Status Architecture Style Covered area Dome(s) Minaret(s) Minaret height

Lahore, Pakistan 31°34′59.40″N 74°19′24.84″E Islam Mosque 1634-1635 A.D. 1641-1642 A.D. Wazir Khan (Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari) Active Indo-Islamic/Mughal 279 x 159 5 4 100 feet

Reference:

• http://pkhistoricalplaces.blogspot.com/2011/04/wazir-khan-mosque.html
• http://infopediapk.weebly.com/wazir-khan-mosque1.html

You can discover more historical and interesting places of Lahore city on Locally Lahore. Locally Lahore is a must have App, which allows you to explore Lahore and it covers up all point of interest. It gives you information about latest events and happenings in Lahore. 

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore. 

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

Read more...

Posted by Anonymousa at Tuesday, June 09, 2015 0 comments

The Shahi Hamam

The Shahi Hamam which is an important landmark of ‘Old Lahore’ is located right inside Delhi Gate. It has a small gate as its entrance on the left side, right after you’re inside Delhi Gate, in the Shahi Guzargah. 

Commonly known as Shahi Hamam was built by Wazir Khan during the times of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan by the Governor of Lahore, Sheikh Ilmuddin Ansari, in 1634. It was meant for Jahangir's consort. The Shahi Hamam, as it is commonly referred to, was probably used by royal travellers to bath and freshen up before walking to the Wazir Khan Mosque for their prayers.

Mughal Era, Shahi Hamam

Architecture

The single-storey structure is spread over 1,110 square feet and was built using brick tiles and limestone cement. It contains the world's largest Mughal fresco painting. The building is a combination of Turkish and Persian style. It reminds one of the traditional Persian hamams which are still vogue in Iran.This building with beautiful paintings has three types of bathing facilities such as cold, hot and steam bath. 

                                                     Inside Shahi Hamam

The Hamam had 21 rooms, eight with marble pools were used for fresh water baths, other eight were for hot water baths, while five rooms were steam baths which were built on the style of Turkish baths. There were special rooms where the bathers would lavish themselves and servants would scrub and oil them to enhance their beauty. On one side the water would pass through a series of revolving brass pipes, under which log fires would heat them. A portion of the water also flowed towards another sets of brass pipes, under which fires would convert them into steam.

The Hamam had a special ‘female sections’ which also had similar facilities, managed by special female staff. The heating chambers and the water pumping section were destroyed in the initial days of Sikh rule. The British did not bother much to redeem them. Instead, they fitted in the bathing and swimming pools to convert them into living quarters.

Shahi Hamam Architecture

The Hamam was neglected and left to be ruined after the fall of the Mughal Empire.

In the initial rule of Nawaz Sharif year 1991, an attempt was made to restore the Hamam, but the damage had been so extensive, that unless a massive investment was made, there seemed no hope of it being restored. Since then many plans were prepared to restore Shahi Hamam. Much of Shahi Hamam’s exterior had been encroached upon. Many damages had been made to the interior such as the floor of Shahi Hamam had been repaired many times in an effort to equalize it with the outer side due to which original floor and fountains were buried beneath. Moreover the seepage had caused disaster to the walls and fresco work on the walls.

WCLA , as per the resettlement action plan , has taken a bold step to remove all the encroachments made around Shahi Hamam. Documentation of Shahi Hamam is in Progress while the following is in the future plan:

• To repair the decayed parts of northern and western sides of Shahi Hamam with standard size bricks.
• Repair work of Western parapet and its pointing.
• Repair work of three northern cells of Shahi Hamam and digging out the original floor.

Reference:

• http://weeklypulse.org/details.aspx?contentID=4425&storylist=4
• http://www.walledcitylahore.gop.pk/index.php/tourist-sites/79-wcl-articles/tourist-sites/93-the-shahi-hamam

You can discover more historical and interesting places of Lahore city on Locally Lahore. Locally Lahore is a must have App, which allows you to explore Lahore and it covers up all point of interest. It gives you information about latest events and happenings in Lahore. 

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore.

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

Read more...

Posted by Anonymousa at Friday, April 17, 2015 1 comments

Famous & Beautiful Nearby Mosques of Lahore

Lahore is an example of extraordinary mix of large number of new, old, and ancient mosques. This city has a culture that mixes the old and the new with superb ease.

1. Grand Jamia Mosque, Lahore

Grand Jamia Mosque is a mosque located in Bahria Town, Lahore, Pakistan. It is the third largest mosque in Pakistan. It was inaugurated on Eid-ul-Adha on 6 October 2014. It can accommodate 25,000 worshipers indoors, while the courtyard and corridor leading to the main halls of worship can accommodate a total of 70,000.The architecture is influenced by Badshahi Masjid, Wazir Khan Mosque and Sheikh Zayed Mosque, while its construction costs over 4 billion rupees (or approximately Turkey and over 50 chandeliers imported from Iran.

Grand Jamia Mosque world's 7th Largest Mosque

Over a 100,000 people at Bahria Town Jamia Masjid

Indigenous masterpiece of Pakistani architecture grand jamia mosque inaugurated in Lahore by Asif Ali Zardari for Eid-ul-Adha prayers. The building was completed at the cost of rs.4 billion having capacity of accommodating 70,000 people which makes it to be the world’s 7th largest mosque. The mosque has become the proud entity of Bahria Town Lahore.

The structure comprises of 4 minarets, each standing tall at 165 ft. and a Grand Dome in the center, which is surrounded by 20 smaller domes. The most fascinating feature about this masterpiece is that the exterior consists of 4 million, 2.5 inch handmade Multani tiles made from special Multanimitti and hand placed by the craftsmen. Placing these tiles alone took 4 years to complete. The total capacity of this magnificent piece of Islamic architecture is 70,000 making it the worlds 7th Largest mosque. It has an indoor capacity of 25,000, labeling it Pakistan’s Largest Mosque. There are dedicated praying areas for women, a school and an Islamic Art Gallery.

2. Badshahi Mosque

The Badshahi Mosque (Urdu: بادشاہی مسجد‎) or "Emperor's Mosque" was buil in 1673. It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Epitomising the beauty and passion of the Mughal era, it is Lahore's most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction. It is located in Iqbal Park in Lahore, Pakistan which is one of the largest urban parks in Pakistan.

All architectural elements in symmetrical harmony

Capable of accommodating over 55,000 worshippers, Badshahi is the second largest mosque in Pakistan, after the Faisal Mosque inIslamabad.

Badshahi Masjid is one of the famous locations where Qari Basit (1927-88), a widely acclaimed Egyptian Qur'anic Recitor, recited the Qur'an.

What to see at Badshahi Mosque

The exterior is decorated with stone carving as well as marble inlay on red sandstone, specially of loti form motifs in bold relief.

The skyline is furnished by beautiful ornamental merlons inlaid with marble lining adding grace to the perimeter of the mosque. In its various architectural features like the vast square courtyard, the side aisles (dalans), the four corner minarets, the projecting central transept of the prayer chamber and the grand entrance gate, is summed up the history of development of mosque architecture of the Muslim world over the thousand years prior to its construction in 1673.

Out of the seven compartments, three double domes finished in marble have superb curvature, whilst the rest have curvilinear domes with a central rib in their interior and flat roof above.

In the eastern front aisle, the ceiling of the compartment is flat (Qalamdani) with a curved border (ghalatan) at the cornice level. The original floor of the courtyard was laid with small kiln-burnt bricks laid in the Mussalah pattern.

The graceful domes of Badshahi Mosque at sunset

View of Badshahi from outside the monumental gate.

View from the main hall of Badshahi Mosque

Red sandstone exterior of Badshahi Mosque

Badshahi Mosque by night

3. Wazir Khan Mosque

The Wazir Khan Mosque (Punjabi/Urdu: مسجد وزیر خان Masjid Wazīr Khān) in Lahore, Pakistan, is famous for its extensive faience tile work. It has been described as 'a mole on the cheek of Lahore'. It was built in seven years, starting around 1634–1635 AD, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. It was built by Hakim Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, a native of Chiniot, who rose to be the court physician to Shah Jahan and a governor of Lahore. He was commonly known as Wazir Khan, a popular title bestowed upon him (the word Wazir means 'minister' in Urdu and Persian). The mosque is inside the Inner City and is easiest accessed from Delhi Gate. The mosque contains some of the finest examples of Qashani tile work from the Mughal period.

Pigeons flying over the mosque

Row of hujra's (a separate room within the mosque for prayer in solitude) lining the courtyard

Construction

Within the inner courtyard of the mosque lies the subterranean tomb of Syed Muhammad Ishaq, known as Miran Badshah, a divine who settled in Lahore during the time of the Tughluq dynasty. The tomb, therefore, predates the mosque.

Tomb of Syed Muhammad Ishaq, in the mosque

4. Dai Anga Mosque

Dai Anga Mosque is a mosque situated near the railway station of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. This historic Mosque is in the Naulakha area, about quarter mile away from Lahore Railway Station. It is an oldest mosque of Pakistan. Its age is 376 years old. 

It is widely believed that Dai Anga built this mosque in 1635 AD (1045 Hijri,), before she went to perform Hajj. However, the inscription in the mosque is said to date it to 1649 AD (1060 AH)

Zeb Un Nisa aka Dai Anga, was a wet nurse of Mughal King Shah Jahan and was well respected in the royal family. The tomb of Dai Anga is known as the Gulabi Bagh. Her family was closely associated with the Mughal empire. Her husband Murad Khan served Emperor Jahangir as Magistrate of Bikaner, and her son Muhammad Rashid Khan, was the best archers in the kingdom, and died fighting in the service of Shah Jahan's eldest son Dara Shikoh. Shah Jahan highly regarded Zeb Un Nisa.

Dai Anga Mosque - oldest mosque of Pakistan

The exterior of the mosque has been embellished with fine tile work similar to that seen at the mosque of Wazir Khan in Lahore. The interior also displayed fine frescoes previously, unfortunately these have largely been replaced by cheap modern ceramic tiles over the last 3 years breaking a 360 year old tradition. 

5. Data Durbar Complex

Data Darbar (or Durbar), located in the city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan is one of the oldest Muslim shrines in South Asia. It houses the remains of a Sufi saint, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (more commonly known as Daata Ganj Baksh, meaning Daata means the master who bestows treasures and Ganj Baksh means Gifted by Allah Almighty). He is said to have lived on the site in the 11th century.

Data Darbar Compound Complex

Data Darbar Complex , The Roots Of qawwali

The shrine is located near the Bhati Gate into Lahore's Walled City. It was originally built by the Ghaznavi king Sultan Zakiruddin Ibrahim in the late eleventh century, and has been expanded several times. For centuries his tomb was visited by Muslims and non-Muslims in search of his blessings and people of all religions are welcomed in Data Durbar. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a frequent visitor. On special occasions, the shrine is decorated with lights, dinner is prepared for hundreds of people and visitors dance while musicians play Sufi music for hours. At the boundary of the shrine, Muslim faithfuls recite the Qur'an, and pay tributes to Muhammad.

There have been rising security fears in recent years after threats by Pakistan's Taliban militants. The large size of the complex which houses the shrine and the fact that it is open at all hours to the public makes protecting it extremely difficult. The Talibans and Salafi oppose visiting tombs of the Sufis terming it as grave worshiping which is shirk in Islam. On 1 July 2010, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the shrine. At least 50 people died and 200 others were hurt in the blasts.This was the biggest attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan since 2001.

6. Suneri Mosque

The Sunheri Masjid (سنهرى مسجد, lit. Golden Mosque) is located in the centre of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The architect of the mosque was Nawab Syed Bhikari Khan, son of Raushan-ud-Daula Turrabaz Khan, deputy governor of Lahore during the reign of Muhammad Shah.

Sunehri Masjid (The Golden Mosque)

The Golden Mosque, which was built in 1753 and features three golden domes, is situated in the Kashmiri Bazaar. The mosque reflects influences of Sikh architecture and is elevated on a higher plinth, surrounded by old bazaars. It has a gateway, which measures 21.3 metres in length and a courtyard that measures 161.5 by 160.6 metres (530 ft × 527 ft). The marble domes cover seven prayer chambers. Four lofty minarets stand at the four corners of the mosque, each with an outer circumference of 20 metres (66 ft), soaring up to 54 metres (177 ft) 

7. Moti Masjid (Lahore Fort)

Moti Masjid (Urdu: موتی مسجد‎), one of the "Pearl Mosques", is a 17th-century religious building located inside the Lahore Fort. It is a small, white marble structure built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and is among his prominent extensions (such as Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha pavilion) to the Lahore Fort Complex. The mosque is located on the western side of Lahore Fort, closer to Alamgiri Gate, the main entrance.

A modern interior view

Design

The structure, located in the northwestern corner of Dewan-e-Aam quadrangle, is typical of Mughal architecture of Shah Jahan's times. It is completely built of white marble that was brought from Makrana.The façade is composed of cusped arches and engaged baluster columns with smooth and fine contours.The mosque has three superimposed domes, two aisles of five bays, and a slightly raised central pishtaq, or portal with a rectangular frame.This five-arched facade distinguishes it from other mosques of the similar class with three-arched facades. The interior is simple and plain with the exception of ceilings that are decorated and designed in four different orders, two arcuate, and two trabeated

8. Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum

Mariam Zamani Begum Masjid was built in her honour by her son Nurruddin Salim Jahangir and is situated in Wall city of Lahore, Pakistan. Masjid Mariam Zamani Begum is also known as Begum Shahi Masjid. This masjid is one of the great symbol of Mughal architect. Floral miniature painting throughout in the interior of the masjid is making it a unique and attractive master peace by Mughals. Color combination of the floral miniature and geometrical shapes painting is marvelous. No doubt this Masjid (mosque) is one of the greatest in Mughals architects. This Masjid has been used by Ranjit Singh in 1850 as a gunpowder factory, that’s why it is also known as baroodkhana wali Masjid

Mariam uz-Zamani Begum was the Imperial Princess, became the Mughal Empress after her marriage to Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was the eldest daughter of Raja of Jaipur state. She was also the mother of Emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir.

Inside Maryam Zamani

The central fountain and ablution area

9. Shia Masjid

The Shia Masjid (literally meaning 'Shia Mosque') is one of the largest Shia mosques in the mainly Shi'ite populated area of Islampura in the city of Lahore, Pakistan.

10. Masjid-e-Shuhda

Masjid Shuhada is located in Springfield Township. The facility sprawled across 1.3 acres, is conveniently situated in the heart of Burlington County with easy access from the NJ Turnpike and I-295 Inter-State Highways. Masjid Shuhada is incorporated as a non-profit organization and caters to the needs of the area's Muslim community by providing educational seminars, and religious services.The facility can also be used for community gatherings for the social occasions.

Masjid-e-Shuhada, The Mall, Lahore

Masjid-e-Shuhada- Night view

Masjid Shuhada is incorporated as a non-profit organization and caters to the needs of the area's Muslim community by providing educational seminars, and religious services.The facility can also be used for community gatherings for the social occasions.

---------------------------------------------

You can find more about mosques in Lahore and other Lahore places on Locally Lahore Apps. Locally Lahore is a must have App, which allows you to explore Lahore and it covers up your all point of interest. It gives you information about latest events and happenings in Lahore

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore.

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

Read more...

Posted by Anonymousa at Tuesday, March 24, 2015 2 comments