Chaurasi Khamba Mosque

The Rajasthan region is known for its rich cultural diversity,[1] specifically on its border near Mathura, and the mosque exemplifies syncretism by standing alongside Hindu temples and other historical monuments.

The mosque attracts tourists and history enthusiasts, and highlights the architecture of the Ghurid empire as a representation of India's culturally diverse legacy.

Constructed following the conquest of northern India by the forces of Mohammad Ghouri, it is believed to have been erected on the remnants of pre-existing Hindu temples.

[5][7] The mosque reflects the architectural grandeur typical of the Ghurid era, with its intricate carvings, domes, and arches, and also serves as a significant cultural and religious landmark.

The upper floor level has only a minbar for the mosque, in addition to a royal gallery with its own access flight, separate from the upper-level leading stairs.

The upper part of the entrance lobby in addition to the roof were added later to the mosque and were designed forming two shallow four-centred arches (some historians date them to the late 16th or 17th century), which is considered one of the Mughal Empire architectural characteristics.

Eave stones decorate the upper fragments of the walls with stone-clad panels covering the parapet and featuring carved battlements.

[4] The reused columns were used to support the mosque after the human figures had been defaced to respect Islamic traditions and match the context.

The adoption of the practice of placing a single mihrab in the Qibla wall was common in western Khurasan and Iran, as evidenced by the remnants of previous mosque construction in Central Asia.

A colonnade in the mosque
Main entrance
Entrance
Ceiling detail
Column detail
Mihrab niche