Jama Masjid

Musheerabad Masjid or MASJID E KALAN (also known as Musheerabad Badi Masjid, or Jama Masjid Musheerabad) , is a mosque located in the Musheerabad locality of Hyderabad, Telangana State, India.

This mosque was built in 1626-1672 CE by the Qutb Shahi ruler, Abdullah Qutub Shah. The main entrance to this mosque has five pointed arches while the courtyard is flanked by three gateways at east, north and south. It was a small sarai at one point of time, but with the new huge structure, there is little space left to enjoy the old structure. All the rooms are locked, but what is cute is that they have built pigeon coops along the walls on top. It looks very neat, and you can hear a pigeon coo or see it flying off or trying to get in.

The mosque is adorned with a lavish use of cut-plaster and beautifully ornamented-cornices. The prayer hall overlooks an enclosed courtyard with an imposing entrance on the eastern side is rectangular in shape. Its roof is supported by elephant trunk, like projecting brackets, which support sharp capitals set in lotus cups. The sarai around the mosque has a series of open and screened arches. The main eastern gateway has a beautiful parapet with four minarets, each decorated with a series of beaded mouldings.

Some of the few cities which have still kept its cultural heritage well preserved is Hyderabad. A visit to this old city summons nostalgia among the old residents of the city. 

The buildings, monuments, the mosques and the temples all speak of the rich history that led to their existence. One of the biggest and the oldest Masjids in Hyderabad, the Jama Masjid is the ideal place to go, to explore Islam. 

It rises with its majestic white towers just a few meters above the Charminar. Jama Masjid is one of the most popular mosques in Hyderabad and is visited by a large number of Muslims every year.

It is indeed one of the most attractive examples of Muslim architecture. The Jama Masjid is located only a few kilometers away from the Charminar in Hyderabad.

This Masjid was also famous for its Islamic education and a monastery in olden times Hyderabad. Now this school does not exist anymore in its premises. Muslims, in very large numbers, visit this mosque for worship and treat it in high esteem.
History

Architecture
Jama Masjid is a majestic form of Islamic architecture. The beautiful white towers of the mosque can be seen from far away. It is a beautiful blend of Persian and Arabic architecture.

There is symmetry in everything in the old mosque and it is decorated with limestone plaster, which probably is why the mosque still stands for us to write about. Another story says that after the fall of Golconda, the Masjid was practically abandoned till the area became a jagir of Nawab Arastu Jah Mushir ul Mulk, when the Prime Minister of Nizam Ali Khan granted it to him in 1795.

People soon started occupying the empty spaces near the mosque and now it is a very crowded locality. Talk of open space is now only imaginary. Way back in 1951, one of the minarets had bent and apparently was repaired. 

There is an urgent need for repairs to the old mosque to keep it intact and appreciate the historical architecture and values. Once you step out of the mosque, you go back to hustle and bustle of the main road, crowded with vehicles, shops and people.

Architecture

The two minars on top of the mosque are quite the signature and Sastry waxes eloquent, "The two main minars are raised over a three feet high plinth and embellished with floral and wavy designs in stucco. The capital is then divided into six divisions of different designs like beads, petals and finally with a row of drops below the parapet."

The masjid seems to be held by two huge pillars made of stucco, but the pieces are falling off. A net has been placed to save people from injury. The new structure tries to copy the design of the pillar, but it is not even worth a mention. The mosque is state protected and some of the old arches have still been retained, though not much care is being taken of this old structure.

The mosque itself is cool and, to quote Sastry: "The roof of the prayer hall is supported by elephant trunk-like projecting brackets which support the short capitals, set in lotus cups. The prayer hall has ten bays with conical ceilings each supported by four arches. The mehraz is a vestibule with three arched openings on either side of the main arch and it is made of black basalt."

Timings: 4:30 AM to 9:45 PM

Address

Address: 337, 1-4-337, Bakaram Inside Rd, Musheerabad, Bakaram, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020, India

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/030618/hyderabad-the-grandeur-of-qutb-mosque.html

http://www.discoveredindia.com/andhra-pradesh/attractions/mosques/jama-masjid-hyderabad.htm
https://www.indianholiday.com/tourist-attraction/hyderabad/mosques-in-hyderabad/jama-masjid.html

http://tourmet.com/jama-masjid-hyderabad/