Pakistan is a country with great scenic beauty. From the high mountains of the Karakoram range to the fertile Indus River plain, Pakistan is home to a diversity of spectacular landscapes. It is a country blessed with rugged snowcapped peaks, hidden villages, unreal lakes and huge deserts. That’s not it, architecture of the country is also noteworthy with magnificent ancient forts and well contracted mosques.
Pakistan’s architecture is the true reflection of the country’s rich cultural diversity. Historic mosques are a significant part of the architecture of the country. Each mosque is unique and beautiful depicting architectural competence of the past. Most of the mosques date back to 17th century.
Here is the list of some of the most majestic mosques in Pakistan:
Named after the Saudi King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Faisal mosque lies at the foot of Margalla Hills in Islamabad. Designed by Turkish architect, Vedat Dalokay, the mosque is sleek and contemporary. The four 88m-high Turkish style minarets soar skywards, the massive 5,000 sq m prayer hall can hold 100,000 worshippers. This stunning mosque has a vast marbled courtyard. Unlike most traditional mosques, Faisal Mosque lacks a dome which drew criticism during the initial stages of its construction. It is the largest mosque in South Asia.
Badshahi Mosque situated in Lahore, is a majestic religious monument constructed during the long rule of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, is the second largest mosque in Pakistan. It has the capacity to hold approximately 1 lac visitors at a time. With its extravagant courtyard and red brick structure, the mosque is also a famous tourist attraction.
Yet another beautiful monument built during the Mughal era, the historic Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta, the ancient capital of Sindh, is a sight to behold. Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned this mosque in the 1640s. It was a gift to the people of Sindh, showing the king’s gratitude for their hospitality. Unlike traditional mosques, this Mughal-era mosque doesn’t have a single minaret, although it does have 33 arches and 93 domes. That’s the largest number of domes in any mosque in Pakistan. These domes also have an interesting anecdote attached to them.
It is another mosque of Mughal era, situated in Peshawar city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It was built in 17th century on the name of the Mughal governor of Peshawar at that time, Nawab Mahabat Khan. He was designated as governor in the reign of 2 great Mughal emperors, Aurangzeb and Shah Jahan. An interesting thing about the mosque is its name is being mispronounced with Muhabbat Khan (Love) khan but it is in actual Mahabat Khan.
The beautiful Tooba Mosque is commonly referred to as ‘Gol Masjid’ after its unique appearance. It is located in Defence Housing Authority Phase 2 in Karachi. Constructed in 1969, this mosque is a major tourist attraction in Karachi. Moreover, it is also considered the largest single dome mosque not only Pakistan but in the entire world. Dr Babar Hamid Chauhan and Zaheer Haider Naqvi, who worked as an architect and an engineer respectively, designed Masjid-e-Tooba. The primary prayer hall can accommodate five thousand people at once. Whereas the outer terrace and lawn can hold an additional 25 thousand visitors.
A new addition to the list of magnificent mosques in Pakistan is the Grand Jamia Mosque in Bahria Town, Lahore. Designed by Nayyar Ali Dada, it pays architectural homage to Pakistan’s other famous mosques, while providing spacious, modern facilities for worshippers. It is the third largest mosque in Pakistan and the 13th largest in the world. The exterior of the mosque is covered in over four million tiles, handcrafted in Multan. The interior boasts custom-made carpets from Turkey and 50 chandeliers imported from Iran. One level of the mosque is dedicated to an Islamic heritage museum displaying rare Qur’anic collections, an Islamic library, and an Islamic art gallery.
Located in Rahim Yar Khan’s village of Bhong, the mosque was constructed over a period of 50 years. The mosque is exquisite in its architecture and decorative calligraphy.
One of the most ancient mosques of Pakistan, Jamia mosque is situated in Khudabad, Dadu, Sindh province. History depicts that it was the reign of Yaar Muhammad Kalhoro when it was built between the time period of 1700-1718. Having a fine and simple design, its architecture narrates a story of elegant construction patterns of that time.
The biggest mosque of Baghdad District of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Its simple building contains a large open area which makes the sitting area airy and lighted.
The Wazir Khan Mosque is 17th century mosque located in the city of Lahore, capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab. The mosque was commissioned during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as part of an ensemble of buildings that also including the nearby Shahi Hammam baths. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
by: Abeer Arshad
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.