A close up of the facade in front of the main dome
Located
off Sri Aurobindo Marg, in Begumpuri Village; this heavily encroached
upon Mosque is a class apart, architecture wise. Constructed on the
orders of Jauna Khan Telangani (prime minister of Feroz Shah Tughluq and
son of Khan i Jahan Maqbul Telangani) , Begumpuri Masjid (Mosque) of
Delhi was one in the series of seven mosques constructed by him with the
others being - Jama Masjid (Ferozabad), Khirki Masjid (in Khirki
Village, opposite Select Citywalk Mall), Kalu Sarai Masjid, Kalan Masjid
(Turkman Gate of Old Delhi), Kalan Masjid (Nizamuddin) and Wakya Masjid
(Lahori Gate).
View, upon entering the mosque
The
moment you climb up the moderately steep stairs of this mosque, you
would find yourselves in a lofty domed gateway which would lead you to
the expansive courtyard (surrounded by a 3 aisled corridor whch is
interrupted by gateway entrances and the mihrab) where, during its
heydays, this ruinous mosque would be full of life and would have grand
carpets spread upon its, now stony, floors and great shamiana's (tents)
spread overhead so that the faithful could pray at ease.
.The large courtyard, where at one time large tents and carpets would be present to offer the prayers
If
we look at what remains of this architecturally distinct mosque, it is
the manner it has been constructed. Jauna Khan Telangani took personal
interest in the designing of the seven mosques he had commissioned and
tried to incorporate a unique feature in each of them.
In
this mosque the main dome over the Mihrab is screened by a large wall
thus giving an initial impression (from a frontal viewpoint) that the
dome does not exist. There are narrow (and dark) stairs which can take
you to the top of this wall and the giant dome behind it !! The wall
also has a slight slant to it , something reminiscent of the Tughluq
style of architecture; and has false minars at both its ends, to
beautify as well as to strengthen the structure.
Begumpuri Masjid is a 2 aisled mosque
Shot of an aisle
The
Begumpuri Mosque, now over 600 years old, is also a classic example of
how neglect, by the concerned authorities, resulted in the mosque being
encroached upon by all sides by residential houses and squatters
creating permanent residences 'inside' the mosque. It was only after a
prolonged legal battle between ASI and those squatters the courts
ordered all the squatters to be shunted out, one by one. But, that said
even today the mosque can see the presence of anti social elements by
seeing broken bottles and litter.
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