Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad (must see)
Mecca Masjid, also Makkah Masjid, is one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad and it is one of the largest Mosques in India. Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building in the old city of Hyderabad, close to the historic landmarks of Chowmahalla Palace,Laad Bazaar, and Charminar. 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 formed the centerpiece around which the city was planned by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah.
The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, enough to accommodate 10,000 worshipers at a time. Fifteen arches support the roof of the main hall, five on each of the three sides. A wall rises on the fourth side to provide Mihrab. At the peak of the minarets flanking the mosque is an arched gallery, and above that a smallish dome and a spire. Inscriptions from the Qur'an adorn many of the arches and doors. The main structure of the mosque is sandwiched between two massive octagonal columns made out of a single piece of granite. The cornices running around the entire mosque structure and the floral motifs and friezes over the arches remind the tourist of the great attention paid to detail in Qutub Shahi architecture. They have a close resemblance to the arches at Charminar and Golkonda Fort.
The Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building, however, lack of maintenance and growing pollution has withered and cracked the structure. It received a chemical wash in 1995. To prevent further damage, the Andhra Pradesh government made Charminar a traffic-free zone in August 2001.
On the edge of the pond are two stone and slab benches, whoever sits on them, according to legend, returns to sit on them again. A room in the courtyard is believed to house a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammed.
The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, enough to accommodate 10,000 worshipers at a time. Fifteen arches support the roof of the main hall, five on each of the three sides. A wall rises on the fourth side to provide Mihrab. At the peak of the minarets flanking the mosque is an arched gallery, and above that a smallish dome and a spire. Inscriptions from the Qur'an adorn many of the arches and doors. The main structure of the mosque is sandwiched between two massive octagonal columns made out of a single piece of granite. The cornices running around the entire mosque structure and the floral motifs and friezes over the arches remind the tourist of the great attention paid to detail in Qutub Shahi architecture. They have a close resemblance to the arches at Charminar and Golkonda Fort.
The Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building, however, lack of maintenance and growing pollution has withered and cracked the structure. It received a chemical wash in 1995. To prevent further damage, the Andhra Pradesh government made Charminar a traffic-free zone in August 2001.
On the edge of the pond are two stone and slab benches, whoever sits on them, according to legend, returns to sit on them again. A room in the courtyard is believed to house a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammed.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Mecca Masjid on Map
Sight Name: Mecca Masjid
Sight Location: Hyderabad, India (See walking tours in Hyderabad)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Hyderabad, India (See walking tours in Hyderabad)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Hyderabad, India
Create Your Own Walk in Hyderabad
Creating your own self-guided walk in Hyderabad is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Hyderabad Cultural Venues
Hyderabad is the city of contrasts. There are many cultural sites and places of interest to explore here, including NTR Memorial, State Archeology Museum, Public Gardens and many religious sites, such as Birla Mandir (Hindu temple), St Joseph's (Roman Catholic) Cathedral and more.
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
Hyderabad Old Town Tour
The capital and the largest city of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is particularly renowned for its Old Town part, rich in attractions, such as Chowmahalla Palace, Nizam Museum and several ancient mosques, some of which date back to the 16th century. Take this self-guided tour to explore these and other prominent landmarks of Hyderabad's Old Town.
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles