Jama Masjid, Shamsi
The Jama Masjid Shamsi, also known as the Jama Shamsi Shahi, and the Great Mosque of Budaun, is a Friday mosque built in the historic centre of Budaun, in the Bareilly division of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
The mosque is a Monument of National Importance, administered by the Archaeological Survey of India, and is a National Heritage Site.
Architecture
The mosque was built in the 13th century by Iltutmish, the ruler of Delhi Sultanate at that time. The style of the mosque echoes Persian and Afghan architecture. It has three gates: the main gate, facing Shakeel Road, is made of red marble and is high. The second gate is in Farshori Tola and the third one in Sotha. It has a central dome surrounded by two more domes, and five other domes. The floor is made from white marble. It has a "Hauz" and three "WuzuKhana" on its premises. Two sides of mosque are occupied by residential blocks: the Jama Masjid Quarters.The mosque is built on an elevated area called Sotha Mohalla, and is the highest structure in the town of Budaun.
The mosque is the third oldest existing and seventh largest mosque of the country after Delhi's Jama Masjid, having a standard capacity of 23,500 worshippers. The built up part of the mosque is larger than any other mosque of the country. Before the expansion of Delhi's Jama Masjid, it was the largest and most famous mosque of the country. The central dome of the mosque is the largest dome of any mosque in the country.