Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan

Badshahi Mosque in Lahore (Punjab, Pakistan) is one of the best examples of Mughal architecture anywhere in Asia. Begun in 1671 under the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb (the sixth Mughal Emperor) it has had a checkered history but, following a complete restoration between 1939 and 1960, it is now a major tourist attraction as well as a centre of Moslem worship and prayer.

Some facts about Badshahi Mosque:

· The building of Badshahi Mosque was started in 1671 and completed in 1673

· It was originally built to house a sacred relic, namely a strand of the Prophet’s hair

· For more than 300 years (until 1986) it was the largest mosque in the World. It is still believed to be the fifth largest in the World.

· The design is based on that of the Jama Mosque in Delhi that was built by Aurangzeb’s father, Shah Jahan.

· The architecture incorporates Indian, Central Asian, Persian and Islamic elements.

· The main Prayer Hall is more than 2100 square meters in size, and the courtyard occupies nearly 26,000 square meters.

· The walls were built using small bricks assembled with lime mortar, then faced with red sandstone.

· The main Prayer Hall is decorated with stucco tracery, frescoes, and inlaid marble.

· The Mosque was built on a 6-meter high plinth to prevent flooding by the nearby Ravi River. The main entrance (from the east) is therefore approached by a flight of 22 three-sided steps.

· The Mosque is symmetrical. The closeness of the river meant that it was not possible to build a northern gateway, so there is therefore no southern gateway either.

· The main Prayer Hall is divided into seven sections by arches. Three of these chambers are surmounted by domes that are clad in white marble.

· The four minarets at the corners of the Mosque are 54 metres high.

· Badshahi Mosque suffered damage during the Sikh Empire of the early 18th century. An earthquake in 1840 destroyed the turrets at the tops of the minarets which were then used during the Sikh Civil War as gun emplacements to bombard the nearby Lahore Fort.

· Repairs to the Mosque began in 1852, but the real restoration work took place in the 20th century, at a cost of around five million rupees

Today, despite the large number of tourists it attracts, Badshahi Mosque is a place of peace and tranquillity. It is well worth a visit not only as a wonderful example of Mughal architecture but as somewhere to offer a prayer and be quiet for a time.

© John Welford