While Islam spread through India, many mosques have been built for its propagation.Through the passing of time, these centers of worship have become well known and popular tourist destinations, owing to the architectural grandeur and spirituality associated with them.
Historically, speaking about the mosques in India, the Cheraman Juma Masjid located at Methala village, in Kerala is considered to be the first Indian mosque which was builtaround 629 AD. This small but beautiful looking mosque depicts a mix of Arabian and Keralite artistry in its construction. A traditional pond still exists today in testimony of the religious fervor it used to contain.
The biggest and most famous of the historical mosques in India, Jamma Masjid at Delhi is most renowned for its size; it is the largest mosque in India. Nearly 20000 people reportedly visit it everyday. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan this sandstone and white marble monument is constructed on a highest platform so that its beautiful facade is visible to all across a great distance.
Rated among the historically famous mosques in India, is the Fatehpur Sikri Mosque at Agra. It today stands in grandeur of the bygone era and reflect true form of Persian an Hindu architecture; though some even attribute it to the famous Mecca, owing to the striking resemblance to it. The entrance to the mosque is through the famous 54 meter high ‘Buland Darwaza’, and located to the north of the mosque is the Shaikh Salim Chisti Dargah, which is said to posses the power to bless the childless with children. The trail for famous mosques in India leads us to the Ajmer Sharief, called the ‘Mecca of South Asia’. Located at the center of the Ajmer town in Rajasthan, this famous Dargah holds the tomb of the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The holy shrine inside the Dargah is encased by pure gold railing, while its apex also is a complete gold structure, drawing huge crowds on Urs festival that begins on the 25th of Jamadi-ul-Akhir in the month of May. A daily ritual that is also famous at the Dargah, is the cooking of kheer in two huge cauldrons that were donated by the emperors Akbar and Jahangir, to feed the poor, and the devotees visiting the Dargah.