Nakhoda Masjid

Nakhoda Masjid
Basic information
Location India Kolkata, India
Geographic coordinates 22°34′35″N 88°21′21″E / 22.57639°N 88.35583°E / 22.57639; 88.35583Coordinates: 22°34′35″N 88°21′21″E / 22.57639°N 88.35583°E / 22.57639; 88.35583
Affiliation Islam
Rite Sunni Hanafi
District Kolkata
Province West Bengal
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Mosque
Architectural description
Architect(s) Kuchhi Memon Jamat
Architectural type Mosque
Architectural style Islamic, Mughal
Completed 1926
Construction cost INR 1,500,000
Specifications
Direction of façade West
Capacity 10,000
Dome(s) 3
Minaret(s) 27
Minaret height 151 ft

The Nakhoda Masjid is the principal mosque of Kolkata, India, in the Chitpur area of the Burrabazar business district in Central Kolkata, at the intersection of Zakariya Street and Rabindra Sarani.

Construction

The mosque was built as an imitation of the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Akbar at Sikandra, Agra by Kutchi Memon Jamat, a small community of Sunni Muslim community from Kutch.[1][2][3][4] Abdur Rahim Osman, a leader of the Kutchi Memon Jama'at, who funded the building was a shipping prince: The mosque was named Nakhoda meaning Mariner.[2][5]

The foundation stone was laid on 11 September 1926. The total cost incurred for the construction was 1,500,000 Indian rupees in 1926.

Architecture and specifications

The mosque's prayer hall has a capacity of 10,000.

The masjid has three domes and two minarets which are 151 feet high. There are an additional 25 smaller minarets which range from 100 feet to 117 feet high.

The gateway is an ersatz of the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri. For this purpose granite stones were brought from Tolepur. Inside is a superb exhibition of exquisite ornamentation and artistic extravaganza.

See also

References

  1. Indo-British Review, Volume 22, Issue 1, Indo-British Historical Society, 1996.
  2. 1 2 Calcutta's edifice: the buildings of a great city by Brian Paul Bach 2006
  3. The Book review, Volume 25
  4. Urban roots of Indian nationalism: pressure groups and conflict of interests in Calcutta City politics, 1875-1939.
  5. Calcutta 200 years: a Tollygunge Club perspective, 1981.
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