Historic Places and Sights: Atala Mosque

Historic places and sights[edit]
Atala mosque[edit]
Main pishtaq leading into the iwan of Atala Masjid
Firoz Shah III began the construction of the Atala mosque in 1393 .Atala mosque is model of
Indo-Iran architecture.The Atala became a model for other mosques in the Jaunpur district.
Architecturally, it retained and advanced the element of monumentalism. The height of the Atala
mosque is over 100 feet (30 m). The perimeter is 248 feet (76 m). The entrance has three
massive stone pylons. The central one consists of a high arch between two sloping towers.
These are decorated with arched niches and stone screened windows.[1][2]
Jhanjhari mosque[edit]
The Jhanjhari mosque, on the north bank of the Gomti river, was built by Ibrahim in the Sipah
locatility of Jaunpur township. It was a residence of Ibrahim himself, as well as a place for saints,
scholars (pandits) and the army (who kept animals such as elephants, camels, horses and
mules). After human destruction and flood damage, only the facade remains. This consists of an
arch, 35 feet (11 m) high and 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. Some of the stones from this mosque were
used in the construction of the Shahi bridge.[2]
Jama mosque[edit]
Main arcade facade, Jama Masjid
The Jama mosque is another of the Sharqi dynasty period, started by Ibrahim and after a number
of construction phases, completed by Hussain. It is located on the Shahganj road near the Purani
bazaar at Madiyahun. The size of the mosque interior is 219 feet (67 m) x 217 feet (66 m). 27
steps climb to the top. There are four gates, one at each cardinal point. The eastern gateway
was destroyed by Sikander Lodhi. The mosque is decorated with Egyptian style engravings
and lotus, sunflower and rose motifs.
Lal Darwaza mosque[edit]

Lal Darwaza Masjid, Jaunpur|This Mosque was built in 1447 (as per inscription of this mosque)
at Begumganj, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Jaunpur, during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Sharqi, by
Queen Bibi Rajyi, dedicated to Maulana Sayyid Ali Dawood Kutubbudin, a celebrated saint
(Maulana) of Jaunpur, whose descendent still live in the mohalla bazaar bhua Pandariba Jaunpur
and mohalla Namaz Gah laldarwaza. The mosque occupies 212 square feet (19.7 m2) x 188
square feet (17.5 m2) and has three entrances and a courtyard. It is also known as the "Red
Portal Mosque".
Shahi Pul[edit]
The Shahi Pul is a bridge over the Gomti river at Jaunpur township. It was built by Khankhana in
1564 for Akbar. The bridge is 26 feet (7.9 m) wide. At each end were pillboxes to house stalls.
On a square platform in the middle of the bridge, there is a large sculpture of a lion with an
elephant underneath its forepaws. The statue originated in a Buddhist monastery. There is an
associated mosque at Idgah on the Allahabad road.
Shahi Qila[edit]
In 1162, Firoz Shah III built the Shahi Qila (the imperial fort). The Kerar Kot fort once stood on
the same site in Jaunpur township on the left (north) bank of the Gomti river. It contained
a mosque and a spacious and stylish set of baths (hammam) installed by Ibrahim, Firoz's
brother. The layout of the fort is an irregular quadrangle enclosed in stone walls. The walls
surround raised earthworks. Most of the remains of the original structures are buried or in ruin.[3]
The main gates face east. The largest inner gate is 14 metres (46 ft) in height. Its external
surface is set with ashlar stone.[3] A further, outer, gate was installed during the reign of the
Mughal king, Akbar, under the patronage of the governor of Jaunpur, Min'im Khan in the 16th
century. It is designed in the shape of a flanking bastion. The spandrels or spaces between the
arches of the outer gate were decorated with blue and yellow tiles. Ornamental niches are built
into the walls of the outer gate.
The two story residential and administrative building or "palace" was built in a square layout. An
interior pillared verandah or aiwan overlooked the ground floor from the first.
The mosque or masjid is likely the oldest building in Jaunpur township. It was a simple arcade of
about 39.40 metres (129.3 ft) x 6.65 metres (21.8 ft). It was supported by pillars in the Bengali
style. There are three low central domes and no minars. (There are two nearby stone pillars
instead).[3][4][5]
Other historic buildings of the district[edit]

 Sheetala Chaukia Dham
 Shri Ram Janki Mandir(Mariahu)
 Shiv temple (built by king Sri Krishnadutta at Dharmapur)
 Kali temple (Kerakat built by Rai Daya Krishna in 1868)
 Shivlinga (Harshvardhan era)

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Historic places and sights[edit]

Main pishtaq leading into the iwan of Atala Masjid

Main arcade facade, Jama Masjid

Lal Darwaza mosque[edit]

Other historic buildings of the district[edit]

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