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Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi is located at the western end of the Chandni Chowk. The mosque was built by one of Emperor Shah Jahan’s wives, Fatehpuri Begum in the year 1650. The architectural design of the mosque is magnificent. It has a single dome and the minarets add excellence to the entire structure. Historical Evidences of the Mosque: The history of the mosque says that the Indian troops were posted here in the Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. It is also believed that during the Sepoy Mutiny the British sold some part of the mosque to a Hindu merchant, Lala Channa Mal. Later on the mosque again came into the hands of the Muslims in the year 1877. The mosque is a collection of the graves of Hazrat Nanoon Shah, Mufti Mohammad Mazhar, Maulana Muhammad Musharraf Ahmad, Dr. Muhammad Sayeed and Shah Jalal. Architecture of the Mosque: The Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi is not a good example of the Mughal conventional architecture. The materials used to build the mosque are not of very good quality. The dome is a bit disproportionate compared to the whole structure. The dome is flanked by two minarets. The prayer hall is unique in itself. It has seven arched openings. The central arch is the highest one. There are two large domes attached with the central arch. The main dome is constructed with lime mortar and embedded with black and white strips. The Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi has three gates. Khari Baoli is in the north end gate and Katra Baryan is the south gate. The courtyard is made up of red sandstone representing a bit of Mughal architecture. The red sandstone pillars on either side of the mosque are a excellence in itself. Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha is celebrated in a grand way in the Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi. The mosque is open on all days. The place is on the heart of the city so it can be reached very easily. There are local buses, taxis and auto rickshaws which are available regularly. The nearest metro station is Delhi Main. So, the tourists can view this architectural excellence very conveniently. The different parts of the mosque are beautifully decorated and are a visual pleasure.
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