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Location
: Fateh Pur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh)
Built in
: 1572 AD
Significance
: One Of The Largest Mosques Of India
While traveling to Agra with Agra Hub, you will also visit the heritage destination of Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri has many grand monuments including the mosque known as the Jama Masjid.
The Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra is also known as the Jami Masjid. The mosque is one of the largest in India. It was constructed in 1571 A.D. during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. The mosque is built at a height due due its exalted purpose and has a large courtyard where the faithful can gather to pray. To the right of the mosque is the Jammat Khana hall and then the Zenana Rauza, or the tomb of the women of the royal household.
The lattice screen tomb of Islam Khan, one of the nobles buried here, is also worth seeing. The focus of the Sufi shrine or 'dargah' is the relatively small but exquisite tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, much of which was originally crafted in red stone and only later faced in marble. The lattice screens are the most intricate and beautiful in the world, with serpentine brackets supporting the eaves.
To the left of the Jami Masjid is the Stone-Cutter's Mosque, the oldest place of worship at Fateh Pur Sikri.
The main entrance is through Buland Darwaza, though it is advisable to enter through the eastern entrance known as the Badshahi Darwaza, as emperor Akbar used to enter through this door from his Khwabgah for daily prayers.
The musicians playing by the saint's tomb are called Qawwali Singers. Qawwalis are devotional songs going back to medieval sufi cults. They are sung to arouse mystical ecstasy and are especially composed to sing the saint's praises in front of his tomb. They are always sung by a group.
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