Mecca Masjid, also called Makkah Masjid, is one of the popular tourist spots of Hyderabad attracting not just devotees but almost everyone. The construction of Mecca Masjid Hyderabad involved close to 8000 masons who worked round the clock. This construction went on for almost 77 years. Located in the Old City, at a distance of 100 meters from the Charminar which is another popular place for sightseeing in Hyderabad, Mecca Masjid is one of the largest mosques not just in India but also in the world.
The mosque has an approximately 75-foot-high hall with dimensions of 220 feet by 180 feet. Interiors of the mosque are also beautifully decorated. It is believed that the main hall alone can accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time.
Along with this, there are 15 intricately designed arches supporting the roof of the prayer hall. On each side, there are five arches, along with a wall which offers Mihrab on the 4th side. The pillars are carved out of single slab granite which increases their exclusivity. The two octagonal columns that majorly constitute the Mosque construction have been created from a single granite stone.
Verses from Quran have been carved on the arches and the doors. Various aspects of Mecca Masjid represent the style of Qutub Shahi dynasty. The cornices along with the floral motifs that have been carved around the complete mosque are one such example. One can see the similarity of design on the arches here at the masjid and those at the golconda Fort and Charminar.
Mecca Masjid construction was started by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah in the year of 1614. If tales have to be believed, the bricks used for the construction of this mosque were brought from Mecca. This mosque is also believed to have some more sacred relics. For instance, according to some, it has the hair of Prophet Muhammed. However, the construction was completed in 1687 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, after he took over the Golconda Kingdom. It has seen repairs even after that.
The beauty of the fascinating architecture of Mecca Masjid has been accentuated by the Belgian crystal chandeliers which adorn the mosque ceilings. There is also a room in the courtyard where relics and artifact from the ancient times have been kept. Inside the mosque, belonging to the Asif Jahi Dynasty, there lie five passageways and tombs as well.
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