5 Must Visit Mosque in Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir being a Muslim dominated state, it is but natural of it having mosques. The Mughals planned and constructed many mosques and many of them are architectural wonders. Every town has a mosque of its own depicting the kashmiriyat of those olden times.

The famous of the lot are the Hazratbal and Charar-e-Sharif mosques. A unique one is a Mosque within a Mosque or Akhand Mullah Masjid!

* Hazratbal mosque

The Hazratbal mosque stands alongside the Dal lake, carved with white marble, has a unique relic. It has the preserved ‘hair’ which people assert is of the Prophet Muhammad. The place is also known as Assar-e-Sharief, Dargah Sharif , Hazrat Bal and even Madinat-us-Sani. Hazrat Bal owes its etymology to Hazrat and Bal. Hazrat in Arabic means Holy, while Bal in Kashmiri is used for place.

* Charar-e-Sharif

Known after Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali, it is a shrine that is popularly known as Charar-i-Sharif. Known also as Alamdar-e-Kashmir, Sheikh-ul-Alam, Sarkhel-e-Rishiya and Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Hazrat Sheikh, his remains were buried at the shrine on his death in 1438.

* Hamdan Mosque

Famous as Amir – I – Kabir, the Mahadan Mosque is one of the attractive mosques in Kashmir. The erstwhile royal Sultan Qutab-ud-Din commissioned the construction in year 1835. Fire had the best of it twice, once in 1731 and before that in the year 1475. After its destruction in 1731, Abdul Bharat Khan renovated and crafted totally in wood, The Hamadani mosque owns its name to a sacred religious leader who had many locals turn to Islam in peace.

* Aali Masjid

The largest mosque in Srinagar is named Aali Masjid. Sultan Hassan Shah’s rule saw the building of this mosque way back in the year of 1471. The Mosque is a fine illustration of the local timber structural design of Kashmir.

* Masjid of Akhund Mullah or Akhoon Mulla

A small shrine built by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh. The prince built this shrine to honor his tutor Akhun Mulla Shah. The glossy grey limestone mosque has a stone lotus (having an inscription from 1649) crowning its podium. A special prayer chamber makes it look like a mosque within a mosque. This is completely separated by a courtyard from the building.