Wonderful Jama Masjid .Junagadh.

Jama Masjid.Junagadh.  Scroll.in

Dome of Jama Masjid by TravelPod Member Alison_l_ - TripAdvisor

Junagadh  the 7th largest in Gujarat, located at the foot of the Girnar hills, is about 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad and it is a city steeped in history.  Junagadh means "Old Fort"and the other meaning based on alternate etymology comes from "Yonagadh", literally "City of the Yona (Greeks)," referring to the ancient inhabitants of the city under the Indo-Greek Kingdom.  After a brief struggle between India and Pakistan, Junagadh joined India on 9 November 1947  over its annexation. Earlier  it was also known as "Sorath", the name of the earlier Princely State of Junagadh . In 1960, it became part of newly formed Gujarat state.

www.columbia.edu. The Jama Masjid, Junagarh, Gujara

Architecturally rich Jami Masjid is an amazing mausoleum well-known for its 140 pillars that support the ceiling of this mausoleum. The pillars were brought from Chudasana Palace.  Built in the 19th century for the Muslim rulers, these decorated Maqbaras  are on the Mahatma Gandhi Road. Of all the tombs, the most magnificent silver minarets, doors and staircases in winding patterns belong  to Mahabat Khan and  was constructed in 1892.  The attractions inside are  the Durbar Hall Museum,  thrones, palanquins, crystal chandeliers, silver chains and howdahs for the elephants.

The magnificent Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), built in Indo-Saracenic style in1423 during the reign of Ahmedabad’s founder Ahmed Shah I is just west of  Manek Chowk  a chaotic urban part of the city. Inside the masjid it is quiet and serene and one could see people doing Namaz silently.

The mosque and arcades are  made of beautiful yellow sandstone and the interesting intricate caving on it throws light of the quality of artistic work done by the highly talented artisans of those days. The white marble floored wide open courtyard, is surrounded by  a columned arcade displaying painted  giant  striking Arabic calligraphy. Yet another feature is the water tank in the center  as one will find in the Hindu temple, and it was meant for for ritual ablutions in the center.  The impressive structures that attract the visitors are the two principal minarets flanking the main arched entrance way collapsed in the 1819 earthquake, their lower portions still stand. The main prayer hall has There are over 260 columns supporting the roof, with its 15 domes, in the main prayer hall which is characteristic of  a maze of light and shadows. A notable feature is  some of the central domes are carved like lotus flowers, as one will find in the typical domes of Jain temples; and some of the pillars are carved with the form of a bell hanging on a chain, resembling the ones  that often hang in Hindu temples.  The  carving of an 'Om', an important  symbol  on one of the inner most widows is unusual in a masjid. It is likely the place was once a Hindu shrine and the masjid  was built on it.

 http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/10/245