Shah Jahan Mosque

THE MOST PRECIOUS JEWEL OF THATTA

 

(Photograph by Muhammad Yousuf Bhatti D'18, exposures executed using Wasiq Paracha's camera. Merged and processed in Lightroom)

  Mughals were traditionally known as keen builders. It is said of the  Mughals that they "built like giants and finished like jewelers". During the time of Shah Jahan (also known as 'Builder King' ), Mughal love of architecture was redefined and transformed, resulting in some of the world's most stunning buildings. Shah Jahan mosque is one of them. 

Shah Jahan Mosque was built in 1674 in the town of Thatta, 100 kms from Karachi. After Emperor Jehangir, Shah Jahan's father, banished him from Delhi, Shah Jahan sought refuge in Thatta. The construction of the mosque represents his gratitude towards the people of Thatta for giving him shelter during the difficult times.

The mosque, a heavy brick structure of simple construction built upon a stone plinth, with heavy square pillars and massive walls, is centered around a courtyard. There is a lot of use of red bricks with blue coloured glaze tiles probably imported from another Sindh’s town of Hala. The mosque has overall 100 domes and is one the few mosques having such number of domes. 
It has been built keeping acoustics in mind. A person speaking inside one end of the dome can be heard at the other end.

This beautiful 17th century structure is one of the best-restored and well-maintained heritage sites in Pakistan. If the Makli necropolis is the crown of Thatta, the Shah Jehan Mosque is its most precious jewel.