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| Jami Masjid,Khambhat GJ x.com |
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| Gujarat style entrance.-Jami Masjid,Khambhat Mapio.net |
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| Jami Masjid,Khambhat, Gujarat TrekEarth |
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| entrance corridor,Jami Masjid en.wikipedia.org |
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| Jami Masjid, Khambhat. TrekEarth |
According to historical records, the site originally housed a Jain temple known as Shakuni Ka Vihar, which is believed to have been constructed by a Jain princess named Sudarshana. During the Gujarat campaign of Alauddin Khilji, the powerful ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, the temple complex was damaged in 1299 CE. The structure was later converted into a congregational mosque. Because of this transformation, many architectural components such as pillars and carved stones from earlier Hindu and Jain temples were reused in the construction of the mosque.
Architecturally, the Jami Masjid is known for its spacious prayer hall and distinctive columned design. The mosque contains a large hall supported by numerous intricately carved pillars arranged in rows. Two rows of twenty-six pillars each create a passage separating the front wall from the first columned aisle, while additional rows form multiple compartments inside the hall. Near the front portion of the mosque, fourteen square chambers are formed, each crowned with a small dome. These low domes differ in style from the larger domes above the mihrab niches.
The building also features finely crafted jali (latticed) windows, a characteristic element of Gujarati Islamic architecture. These perforated stone screens allow filtered light and ventilation into the prayer hall while preserving privacy, particularly for women in the gallery. The mosque’s tall entrance arches rise to about forty feet and are crowned with decorative finials, enhancing the monument’s imposing appearance.
Within the southern section of the mosque complex lies the tomb of Omar bin Ahmad Al Kazaruni, a revered religious figure who died in 1333 CE. His mausoleum is designed as a square colonnaded hall with a circular inner court containing the marble tomb. Several other smaller graves from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries are also found in this section.
Historically, the Jami Masjid represents the blending of local temple architecture with Islamic design traditions in Gujarat. Today, the monument remains an important heritage site reflecting the region’s layered cultural history.
Wikipedia – Jami Masjid, Khambhat.
Navrang India Blog – “Jami Masjid in Khambhat, Gujarat.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jami_Masjid,_Khambhat
K. N. Jayaraman
