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Top 10 Sensational Facts about Imperial Mosque Lahore Badshahi Masjid Lahore

The Badshahi Mosque was constructed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb between 1671 and 1673. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay.

Regarded as the King of all mosques in Lahore the Badshahi Mosque was the world’s largest mosque for over 313 years in history. The grandeur of the mosque can be tied to the fact that for the first 70 years after its construction in 1673, the mosque was simply known for its exceptional and extraordinary size which was visible from almost ten miles away.

The mosque is the standout feature of a larger complex that comprises of several gardens and smaller monuments. The famed Hazuri Bagh, a marble pavilion built by Raja Ranjit Singh, lends to an unmistakable aura of royalty.

Here are the top 10 sensational Facts about the imperial mosque Badshahi Masjid in Lahore.

1. Badshahi Mosque is the Most Iconic Landmark of Lahore

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Badshahi Mosque Lahore, Pakistan is one of the most famous landmarks and tourist destinations in Pakistan. It was built in the 16th century is also one of the largest mosques in the world. The Badshahi Mosque is a Mughal-era mosque in Lahore.

The mosque is located west of Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled City of Lahore. The mosque is widely considered to be one of Lahore’s most iconic landmarks.

The entrance to the mosque lies on the western side of the rectangular Hazuri Bagh. It remains the largest and most recent of the grand imperial mosques of the Mughal-era and is the second-largest mosque in Pakistan.

2. Badshashi Mosque was built under the Patronage of Emperor Alamgir

The mosque was built under the patronage of the sixth Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb Alamgir, the mosque came to completion in 1673. Aurangzeb’s foster brother Muzaffar Hussain (also known as Fidaie Khan Koka), governor of Lahore 1671 to 1675, supervised the building.

 He also served as Master of Ordnance to the emperor. His name is printed on a beautiful marble slab that is affixed at the main entrance of the mosque.

The construction of the mosque took about two years from May 1671 to April 1673. It was built opposite the Lahore Fort, a position that illustrated its importance in the Mughal Empire, Badshahi Mosque took an honoured place in the empire.

In conjunction with the building of Badshahi, the Emperor had a new gate built at the fort named Alamgiri Gate.

3. Badshahi Mosque is one of the Largest Mosque in the World

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The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Constructed between 1671 and 1673, it was the largest mosque in the world upon construction. It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and the fifth largest mosque in the world.

The construction of the mosque took about two years from May 1671 to April 1673. Built opposite the Lahore Fort, a position that illustrated its importance in the Mughal Empire, Badshahi Mosque took an honored place in the empire.

 It remained the largest mosque in the world for about 313 years.

4.  Badshashi Mosque is a Great Example of Mughal Architecture

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The entire architecture is a mark of symmetry which was known in Mughal architecture. We see that the main prayer hall is divided into seven parts by means of multi-foiled arches supported on heavy pillars, three of which bear white marble double domes whereas the other four parts are covered with flat domes.

In an effort to mirror the character of its founder, architects designed the mosque to exude boldness, vastness and majesty. The walls had been built with small kiln-burnt bricks laid in kankar, lime mortar but have a finishing of red sandstone. The steps leading to the prayer chamber and its plinth have been constructed with variegated marble.

5.  The Badshahi Masjid Impressive Courtyard

The courtyard of the Badshahi Masjid is an impressive sight. It can accommodate thousands of worshippers at a time, making it one of the largest mosques in the world.

The courtyard is surrounded by a collonaded arcade, which provides shelter from the sun and rain. The arcade is decorated with beautiful tile work, which adds to the mosque’s aesthetic appeal.

Badshahi Mosque has the capacity to accommodate over 55,000 worshippers and it closely resembles Jama Masjid built by Shah Jehan in Delhi. It is built with red brick and white marble.

6.  The Tapered Minarets of the Badshahi Masjid

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The four minarets of the Badshahi Masjid boast an incredibly symmetrical design. The minarets are evenly spaced and evenly sized, and they taper perfectly towards the top. The overall effect is truly stunning, and it’s no wonder that the Badshahi Masjid is one of Pakistan’s most popular tourist destinations.

Badshahi Masjid has eight minarets in total, four located at the corners of the main prayer hall. In contrast, the other four are located at the corners of the outer courtyard. The mosque is an excellent example of Mughal architecture and one of Pakistan’s most popular tourist attractions.

7.   The  Badshashi Mosque has a Museum

A few years back, a small Islamic museum was added to the mosque. The museum contains precious relics of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), his cousin and son-in-law Hazrat Ali (RA) and the Prophet’s beloved daughter Hazrat Fatima Zahra (RA). It also contains some old hand-written copies of the Holy Quran. This all makes Badshahi Mosque a place worth worshipping and worth visiting as well.

Holding several wonders to itself, the Badshahi Mosque also houses a museum, which makes it not only significant for tourists visiting the grandeur architecture, and also culturally and religiously important for the people of Pakistan.

8.   The Mosque was Built to House a religious Relic

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The construction of the mosque took about two years from May 1671 to April 1673. Built opposite the Lahore Fort, a position that illustrated its importance in the Mughal Empire, Badshahi Mosque took an honoured place in the empire.

Now let us come to a question, why was this mosque constructed here? Historic references tell us that the Badshahi Mosque was initially planned to guard a strand of the last Prophet’s (PBHU) hair. 

 Other historic accounts tell that Aurangzeb built the mosque in order to commemorate his military campaigns against the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji. The mosque was built to commemorate Aurangzeb’s military campaigns in southern India, in particular against the Maratha king Shivaji.

9. Badshashi Mosque is a Tourist Attraction

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One thing that attracts tourists to Lahore all across the world is the vestige of the time when Rajputs and Sikhs ruled the city. Therefore Lahore is named as the cultural capital of Pakistan.

Located in the historical city of Lahore, the prominent Badshahi Mosque promises an amazing experience for tourists. It has been a place to worship and one of the biggest tourist attractions.

The charm of this mosque has attracted many politicians and celebrities, including Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, on their tours to Pakistan.

10. Badshahi Mosque has had a Tumultuous History

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The history of the Badshahi Mosque is also full of turmoil like many other buildings of the Mughal regime. The Sikh and British rulers who ruled over the sub-continent after disintegrating the Mughal regime manifested their hatred towards the Muslim precursors by making attempts to destroy the beauty of their buildings.

So like Shalimar Gardens, Badshahi Mosque too was converted into a stable for army horses. Sanctity of the mosque was trodden, Muslims weren’t allowed to enter the mosque and for a long period, ‘Azaan’ was not chanted inside the mosque. Muslims could only gather at a small place outside the mosque and say their prayers there. Marble, rubies and other precious stones were also stolen.

The British didn’t do any good to the mosque either. They used it as a practice camp for their military weapons, demolished one of its walls and badly damaged the interior of the mosque which consisted of beautifully engraved Quranic verses and fresco. However, after sensing Muslim’s hatred towards them, they handed over the mosque to the Muslims in 1852.

Badshahi Mosque is one of the biggest mosques in the world. It is also one of the most beautiful mosques. Built-in the Mughal Era, this amazing mosque has been a part of Lahore since the 16th century.