Hyderabad, India
Coordinates: 17.360446, 78.473572
Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid, is a congregational mosque in Hyderabad, India.
It is one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 20,000.
The mosque was built between the 16th and 17th centuries, and is a state-protected monument situated in the heart of the old city of Hyderabad, close to the historic landmarks of Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and Laad Bazaar.
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam, and used them in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name.
It has the capacity to accommodate 20,000 worshippers to offer prayers at a time. About 8000 workers were involved in the construction of this mosque that draws hundreds of tourists from all across the globe, not just for its historical or religious importance but also for its spectacular beauty.
Granite Stone
The three arched facades have been carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years to quarry.
More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah personally laid the foundation stone and constructed it.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French explorer, in his travelogue observed:
“It is about 50 years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town which will be the grandest in all India when it is completed. The size of the stone is the subject of special accomplishment, and that of a niche, which is its place for prayer, is an entire rock of such enormous size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and 500 to 600 men were employed continually on its work. It required still more time to roll it up on to conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they took 1400 oxen to draw it.[3]
Tombs
The entrance to the courtyard is one of the mosque’s most striking features with a rectangular, arched, and canopied building that houses the marble graves of the Asaf Jahi dynasty rulers.
The Nizams of Hyderabad (except for the first and last) are buried in the mosque premises as well
Legend
A few common sights at this sacred place include feeding of pigeons considered to be a virtue in the Muslim community and devotees sitting by the side of an artificial pond installed in the mosque. As per a legend, whoever sits on the two stones and slab benches beside the pond always comes back to sit on them again
Know This
Shoe keeping is done by local people at various places, they keep your shoes and give you a handmade token.
Foreign visitors are welcome to visit the inside of the mosque. There is a lady outside who would make sure ladies have scarves around their necks before entering the mosque.
