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Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Badshahi Mosque

Badshahi Masjid – main building by Hamnaumer/

The Badshahi Mosque is located in Lahore Pakistan. It’s one of the few significant architectural monuments built during Emperor Aurangzeb’s long rule.

It’s the second largest Mosque in Pakistan after the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. At the present, it’s the fifth largest Mosque in the world.

Its beauty, elegance, and scale embodied the Mughal culture achievement are one of the major tourist attractions.

The construction of the Mosque was under the direction of Muzaffar Hussain, Aurangzeb’s brother-in-law and the governor of Lahore.

1. The Interesting Badshahi Mosque was constructed by Mughal Emperor

Badshahi Mosque, the heart of Lahore by unknown Arthur/

The Badshahi Mosque was constructed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1673. It’s Pakistan’s most iconic sight.

Badshahi Mosque was badly damaged and misused during the Sikh rule, they used the Mosque as a horse stable. They stole jewels from the mosque such as marble, rubies, gold, and other valuables

Nevertheless, the British used the Mosque for military training. They demolished a large portion of the wall and rendered the mosque unusable.

The entrance of the Mosque lies on the western side of the rectangular Hazuri Bagh and faces the famous Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort.

The Mosque depicts Mughal architecture with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay.

After the Era of the misuse of the Mosque the Badshahi Mosque Authority supervised and carried out extensive repairs costing 4.8 million rupees, the repairs brought the Mosque back to its original shape and condition.

2. The exquisite bold, vast, and beautiful ornamental mosque

Badshahi Mosque Perspective by unknown Arthur/

The Mosque is bold, vast, and majestic in its expression. The walls were built with small kiln burnt bricks laid in Kankar, lime motor but have a veneer of red sandstone.

The skyline is furnished by beautiful ornamental merlons inlaid with marble lining adding grace to the perimeter of the mosque.

The exterior is decorated with stone carving as well as marble inlay in red sandstone. The main prayer hall is divided into seven sections using multi-foil arches supported by heavy piers.

3. The fascinating prayer hall can hold 95,000 worshippers

Badshahi Mosque Lahore 2014 by Unknown Arthur/

The Mosque was built to commemorate Aurangzeb’s military campaigns in Southern India, particularly against the Maratha King Shivaji.

The main prayer hall has a space of 95,000 worshippers. They are three domes in the mosque the bigger one is at the center and two small ones on the side.

The view of the courtyard is amazing, it is made of sandstones. They are eight minarets; they can be seen by visitors from a distance.

The architecture is a masterpiece of unique art. The designs are inspired by Greek, Indian, and Central Asian architecture.

4. The illegal unlawful Nikah in Badshahi Mosque

In the past Nikah or marriage used to have its religious status, but today after many decades the Nikah has taken legal status.

If you wish to get your Nikah legally you will be required to contact a lawyer instead of going to the mosque.

The Nikah in Badshahi was oral, today in Pakistan Nikah done orally is a crime under Pakistan law.

The Molan’s in Badshahi do not know the law, nor do they know about legal marriage registration.

5. When you visit the Mosque it will mesmerize you with its astonishing beauty 

Every time you visit the Mosque, it will mesmerize you with its exquisiteness and everlasting beauty.

An Interesting thing about the Mosque, and was the reason for the change of River Ravi’s bed, The Mosque was built on a higher raised platform to avoid floods.

Mughal Emperor Alamgir Aurangzeb ordered to place barriers at one point of the river so that the water would not flow close to the mosque.

6. The beautiful Hazuri Bagh Garden in the courtyard of the Badshahi Mosque

Hazuri Bagh Baradari & Ground/

Hazuri Bagh is a garden at the mosque. The garden was built during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Every Sunday afternoon people gather to hear storytellers recite traditional Punjab Qisse such as Heer Ranjha and Sassi Punnum and other Punjab Sufi poetry.

7. The exquisite Restaurants near the Mosque give an astonishing view 

To enjoy good Pakistan continental food on the rooftops at restaurants nearby giving a fascinating view of the mosque.

The restaurants are Haveli, Cocoa’s den, Fort view, Andaz Restaurant, and many others. Tourists are mainly stunned at the mosque view at night seating at the restaurants and enjoying a good meal.

8. The two tombs of the esteemed Poet and the Unionist Leader at the Entrance of the Mosque

In the entrance of the Mosque lies the tomb of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal a few hundred feet from Iqbal’s mausoleum is the tomb of his political adversary Sikander Hayat Khan.

Iqbal was one of the major inspirations behind the Pakistan Movement. He is known as the esteemed Poet in Pakistan. Sikander was the leader of the Feudal Unionist party that dominated the politics of Punjab.

Thousands of visitors come to the mausoleum every day to pay respect to the Poet Philosopher.

9. The interesting Museum shelters the Prophet Muhammad and family artifacts

Visitors and patrons of the gallery gladly donate millions of rupees through donations for the museum.

The museum features a collection of artifacts related to Prophet Muhammad and his family as well as the rare copies of the Holy Quran caged with gold and silver.

The museum harbored personal items of the messenger of Islam the items are a cap, a pair of his shoe, his robe, an imprint of a foot, the Islamic flag, a prayer mat, his daughter Fatima’s handkerchief, and many others.

10. The time it took to reconstruct the magnificent Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan

Badshahi Mosque took an honored place in the Empire. The Construction of the mosque took about two years.

The Astonishing Mosque was built opposite the Lahore Fort, a position that illustrated its importance in the Mughal Empire.

In conjunction with the building renovation of the Great Mosque, the emperor had a new gate built at the fort named Alamgiri Gate.