Jama Masjid Aurangabad

The Jama Masjid is a mosque built in 1612 AD, located near the Killa Arrak in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. It is historically significant because it was constructed in 1612 AD, very soon after the foundation of Aurangabad (then called "Khadki") by Malik Amber in 1610 AD. The mosque was later extended by Aurangzeb in the year 1692 AD, it is one of the oldest mosques of Aurangabad which is still in good condition.

History

The mosque was constructed by Malik Amber in 1612 AD, once he found the city Kharaki in 1610 AD, and when Malik Ambar died in 1626 AD, and succeeded by his son Fateh Khan who changed the name of Khadki to "Fatehnagar".

When Mughals captured Daulatabad in 1633 AD, the Nizam Shahi dominions, including Fatehnagar, fell under the possession of the Mughals. In 1653 AD, when Prince Aurangzeb was appointed the viceroy of the Deccan for the second time, he made Fatehnagar his capital and called it Aurangabad and built the fort Killa Arrak near the mosque, upon which the mosque felt in the boundaries of the fort walls expanding from Delhi Gate to Mecca Gate.

Realizing the architecture values of the mosque, Aurangzeb extended the mosque by constructing four Arches in the front portion in 1692 AD. The low buildings are embraced by groves and are embellished by sleek minarets and a broad band where Quranic inscriptions are inscribed on it. Among the magnificent fort, Amkhar (Public Hall) and Jama Masjid are the only structures still remain in good condition.

Structure

The mosque is located near the Killa Arrak of Aurangabad. It has 50 polygonal pillars. These pillars are arranged in 5 rows. They are connected by a system of 9 arches. This divides the building into 27 equal compartments. Each compartment is covered by a small domical vault which is simple but elegantly designed. Out of the 9 pointed arches in the front 5 were erected by Malik Ambar. A roomy court in front of the mosque, has open buildings on 3 sides for travelers (in early days). A water tank in the middle of the court is provided, from the Malik Ambar canal.

Getting There

Jama Masjid is located in the heart of the city, so the journey should take around 10-15 minutes by car or rickshaw and slightly longer by bus. Once you reach the mosque, you can explore the area on foot. Jama Masjid is a popular tourist attraction in Aurangabad and is known for its beautiful architecture and rich history. It is one of the largest mosques in India and was built during the Mughal era.

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