Moti Masjid: Agra Completed On 7 DEC 1653 AD

MOTI MASJID Agra
Completed on 7TH DEC 1653 AD

VIEW OF INTERIOR EASTERN GATE
LOCATION OF MOTI MASJID
Location of the Mosque

The mosque is situated in the fort to the north-
west of the palace and to the
north of the great Diwan-e-Aam. It is almost at
the center of the fort. This masjid has
been built on a lofty plinth occupying sloping
ground from west to east. Infact it was
scrupulously chosen place to built sacred
shrine
ABOUT MOTI MASJID
The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in Agra was built by Shah Jahan . During the rule of
Shah Jahan the Mughal emperor, numerous architectural wonders were built, the most
famous of them being the Taj Mahal. Moti Masjid earned the epithet Pearl Mosque
for it shone like a pearl. It is held that this mosque was constructed by Shah Jahan for
his members of royal court.
Period of construction 1648 to 1654
SIGNIFICANCE OF MOTI MASJID
The architecture design of the mosque resemble the Saint Basil’s Cathedral(1555–
1561) in Moscow.
The architectural significance of the mosque is that it is built on a land that inclines
from east to the northern part of the Diwan-i-Am complex. The mosque here is
lavishly built with light white marble facing reflecting the style of architecture during
Shah Jahan.
Women are accessible to an area on the either side of the main prayer hall. Both of
the prayer halls are decorated with screens that have marble worked screens.
❑ The mosque is based on four-iwan plan
❑ Have three gateways north, south and east.
PLAN OF THE MOSQUE ❑ the eastern gateway is being the main gateway is
approached by open flights of steps from either side.
Onion shaped ❑ While the north and the south gateways are approached
Dome
from outside by the closed double vaulted staircases.
❑ Court (sahn) is square in shape and is surrounded by cloisters
(dalaans )from all the three sides, interrupted in the middle by
Aisle projected gateways.
❑ A water Tank for ablution is situated exactly at the centre of
the court (sahn).
❑ The sanctuary (liwan) on the west is a 7-bayed and 3-aisled
prayer hall.
Burj
❑ Liwan is surmounted with three full bulged onion shaped
domes; the central dome is slightly larger than the flanking
ones.
Court ❑ There are total 6 octagonal burj (towers) two at the
corners of the eastern facade and four at the four corners
of the prayer hall,
bays ❑ Burj are surmounted with octagonal chattries.
WHAT IS IWAN
An iwan is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on
three sides, with one end entirely open.
The Taj Mahal uses iwans for both entrances and
decorative features
BUILDING MATERIAL
❑ On the exterior of the mosque red sandstone is used.
❑ Slabs have been used to cover the core, built of bricks or rubble.
❑ the western liwan is covered with marble facing.
❑ Black marble has been utilized in the Persian inscription inscribed at the forefront
of the facade and also in the geometrical designs carved inside the western
liwan.
❑ In musallas (an open space outside a mosque, mainly used for prayer in Islam.) of
the western liwan, black marble strips and yellow marble at the tip have been used.
EXTERNAL ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF THE
PREMISES
The exterior of the premise is mostly built of red sandstone (sang-e-surkh) but
its interior has been built in pure white marble (sang-e-marmar) and is extraordinarily
beautiful.
This mosque is 74.14m in length from east to west and 57.24m in breadth from
north to south (minus the projections of the corner towers, the
eastern gateway and of the qibla).
The mosque is built on a high plinth, which contains a series of
lower vaulted chambers under the eastern front, northern and
southern sides of it, and thus seems to be a three storey high
(including the high plinth) although it is double storied
The eastern wall of the mosque appears to have been more imposing
and embellished comparatively to the other side walls.
The numbers of open vaulted chambers are more in eastern

side than the southern and northern sides.
Eastern side elevation
Southern side elevation

The eastern gateway is comparatively large, more imposing
and seems to be a monument in itself. It is double-storied
red sandstone structure semi-octagonal (Baghdadi-Muthamman)
having trihedral projection and the series of parapets above
intervened with angular turrets
The main archway of the gate is
accommodated in iwan-frame and entrance to the interior of the mosque through
carved wooden door.
Eastern gateway is flanked by double splendour alcoves one above the other
Just below the platform has two storied chambers with three wooden gates each,
fronted with multifoliated three arched double storey varandah, These chambers were
perhaps, meant for the servants posted there to look after the mosque.
REFERENCES
❑Studying Mughal Architecture Under Shah Jahan: Mosques
of Agra Abstract of the Thesis Submitted for the Award
of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In History BY
Salim Ansari Under the Supervision of Prof. Mohd.
Afzal Khan Centre of Advanced Study Department of
History ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 2015
❑Wikipedia
❑Sharma, G. S., A Comprehensive Guide to Agra and its
Historical Buildings, Agra, 1907.
❑Facebook
Shubhankar
THANK YOU

Moti Masjid: Agra Completed On 7 DEC 1653 AD

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Moti Masjid: Agra Completed On 7 DEC 1653 AD

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MOTI MASJID Agra

Completed on 7TH DEC 1653 AD

Location of the Mosque

The numbers of open vaulted chambers are more in eastern

Southern side elevation

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