Jama Masjid
Discover Jama Masjid
Last updated on October 19, 2026Introduction
Jama Masjid is the great congregational mosque of Shahjahanabad, the Mughal city now called Old Delhi. Shah Jahan began it in 1644 and the mosque was inaugurated in 1656. It remains an active place of worship, not a monument emptied of its religious life.
A broad stair rises from the markets to three gates and a red-sandstone courtyard capable of holding about 25,000 worshippers. On the western side, a 61-metre prayer hall carries three marble domes and is flanked by two 41-metre minarets.
The strongest visit connects architecture with use: watch how the gates channel movement, how the courtyard serves both daily visitors and large congregations, and how the elevated platform sets the mosque above the lanes around it. Prayer always takes priority over sightseeing.
Architecture
The mosque is raised about 10 metres above the surrounding city. Three monumental gates and broad stairways meet a square courtyard at the top.
Red sandstone establishes the mass; white and black marble sharpen the detail. Alternating stone bands draw the eye up the twin 41-metre minarets, while three marble domes crown the western prayer hall.
The plan faces west toward Mecca. Seven bays and prayer niches organise the hall, with a larger central arch marking its axis.
How it was built and evolved over time
Builders used an elevated hill and a high plinth to make the mosque visible above Shahjahanabad. Three stairways rise to gates that deliver worshippers into a courtyard planned for very large congregations.
The prayer hall is a long red-sandstone structure faced with a central projecting arch and smaller cusped openings. White and black marble was used selectively for stripes, calligraphy, domes, prayer niches and the floor, giving emphasis without concealing the sandstone frame.
The building has been repaired repeatedly because it never stopped serving a large congregation for long. Conservation therefore has to protect historic stone while allowing daily prayer, festival crowds and visitor circulation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jama Masjid still an active mosque?
Yes. Worship takes priority, and non-worship access is restricted around prayers.
Who built it?
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned it for Shahjahanabad.
When was it completed?
It was inaugurated in 1656 after construction begun in 1644.
How large is the courtyard?
It can hold about 25,000 worshippers.
Do visitors remove their shoes?
Yes. Suitable dress is also required.