Dhai Seedhi Ki Masjid : Asia's Smallest Mosque

Some things in Bhopal are difficult to miss; like Upper Lake, the largest manmade lake in India, which dominates the landscape here, or Taj-ulMasjid, the immense mosque – one of Asia’s largest – which tops any list of city sights.  But until recently I, like pretty much everyone else who’s ever been Bhopal, had no idea that this fascinating city was also home to the Asia’s smallest mosque – Dhai Seedhi Ki Masjid (Mosque of two and half step).

It is on the campus of Gandhi Medical College. Dhai Seedi Ki Masjid is in one of the watchtowers. It is the oldest mosque in Bhopal city, initially built as a makeshift mosque during the construction of the Fatehgarh fort started by Dost Mohammad Khan. It was built so that the guards deployed at Fatehgarh Fort could perform Namaaz.

                                                                                                       I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources

Taj-Ul-Masjid : Asia's Largest Mosque

Taj-ul-Masajid literally means "the crown of mosques", also spelt as Taj-ul-Masaajid and Taj-ul-Masjid,  is a mosque situated in Bhopal, India. This is the largest mosque in Asia.

The construction of the mosque was started by Sultan Jahan Begum (1868-1901) ruler of Bhopal (wife of Nawab Hameeduddeen Khan) and continued to be built by her daughter Shah Jahan Begum,till her lifetime. The mosque was not completed due to lack of funds, and after a long lay-off, construction was resumed in 1971 by great efforts of Allama Mohammad Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari of Bhopal. The construction was completed by 1985 and the eastern gate was renovated grandly using ancient motifs from circa 1250 Syrian mosques by the contribution of the Emir of Kuwait to commemorate the memory of his departed wife.

The Taj-ul-Masjid is constructed around a huge courtyard and a big tank in the centre. The gateway is double storeyed with four archways and nine cusped manifold openings that open in main prayer hall of the impressive Masjid. Eleven arches adorn the Quibla wall of the prayer hall. The pillars of the hall are heavily patterned with intricate designs and finally culminate topped with twenty seven ceilings. The octagonal mirrors rising to a height of eighteen storeys are a marvel in itself.

The mosque is one of the most important Muslim landmarks in the city of Bhopal, and is multi-purpose as it is used as a madarsa, a Islamic religious school during the day.

                                                                                             I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources