Khirki Masjid




The Khirki Masjid or the Khirki Mosque can be accessed from the Khirki Village, South Delhi. The mosque is near Satpula and is placed in the suburb of Jahanpanah. The Khirki Masjid was built on the orders of Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah. He was the wazir (prime minister) during the rule of Feroz Shah Tughlaq. The mosque is also referred to as the Window Mosque. It was constructed as a fortification with a blend of Islamic architecture and traditional Hindu style. It is also well-known because it is one of the few mosques in North India. It is an ideal example of a covered mosque where the roof covers most of the areas. The Khiriki Masjid is also known to be one of the oldest mosques in India.

The Khirki Masjid can be accessed through the Khirki Village close to Saket. The masjid is about 4 Km east from Qutub Minar and around 13 Km south from Connaught Place. The masjid is a part of the old city of Jahanpanah between Tughlaqabad and Siri. Satpula is a part of the boundary wall of Jahanpanah. The masjid is not designed or beautified intricately but the layout and geometrical sophistication is worth noticing.

The nearest metro station to the Khirki Masjid is the Saket Metro Station. A visit to the masjid can be clubbed with a visit to nearby monuments like Begumpur Mosque, Bijay Mandal and Satpula. The masjid is best visited during the daytime; visitors should avoid the early and late hours. During the daytime, the masjid is lit with sunlight and can be seen conveniently.

Over the years the state of the Khirki Masjid has deteriorated due to negligence and encroachment. The locals have occupied the area around the masjid but the masjid still has its own elegance. Restoration work has been tried to reinstate the masjid but has been unsuccessful. The Khirki Masjid is one of the best structures from the Tughlaq era. A lot of work is being done to enhance the importance of the masjid.

History

Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah along with Feroz Shah Tughlaq was devoted towards building beautiful buildings and monuments. They built several mosques and tombs, Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah was especially known for building seven uniquely designed mosques. Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah showed special interest in building mosques as he got converted to Islam and wanted to prove his obedience towards his religion.

The Khirki masjid is built in the Tughluqian style of architecture. The title of Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah is engraved on the eastern entrance of the masjid as the builder. There is no literary evidence but it is believed that the mosque was built in the late 14th century.

Architecture

The Khirki Masjid is built over an expanse of 936 sq. ft. on a raised platform. Usually mosques have one courtyard, but Khirki masjid has four small courtyards. All the courtyards are bordered with arched pillars that run into aisles. The aisles altogether have 180 square columns and around 60 pillars. These courtyards provide ample sunlight and aeration inside the masjid. The roof of the masjid is sectioned into 25 equal sized squares. The sections of the roof are covered with alternating groups of 9 small domes and flat roofs.

The masjid also has a lower level which appears to be approachable from below the main stairwell. The junctions of the mosque have towers which can be accessed through winding staircases. The western end of the masjid has the mihrab which is an indication of the direction of Makkah.

The focal entry to the masjid is from the southern gate. Visitors have to climb a short flight of stairs to reach the gateway. The gateway is edged with turrets. Entering the gateway visitors reach a square porch. Four large and rounded mainstays can be seen on each of the exterior four walls of the masjid. The southern entrance features a blend of amazing construction and arches.

The interior of the masjid is largely undecorated except for some beautiful finely carved jaalis or screens that allow light to come inside the masjid. The jaalis can be seen on the upper floor of the masjid. The outside walls of the masjid are plastered. The ridge of the mosque can be approached from the eastern and northern end. The complete geometrical design of the masjid can be seen from the top. Today several residential complexes have come up around the area of the masjid. Visitors should observe the structure of the domes when on the roof, the structure of the domes is quite unusual.

Most of the structure of the masjid is intact. A small section of the roof of the masjid has collapsed but the area gives a peak into the beautiful and serene interiors of the masjid. A visit to the Khirki Masjid is definitely recommended. The symmetry of the masjid is what makes the building truly beautiful and worth visiting.

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