Badshahi Mosque

The Badshahi Mosque ( ) or the 'Emperor's Mosque' in Lahore is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Epitomising the beauty, passion and grandeur of the Mughal era , it is Lahore's most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction. Capable of accommodating 10,000 worshippers in its main prayer hall and a further 100,000 in its courtyard and porticoes, it remained the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986 (a period of 313 years), when overtaken in size by the completion of the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad . Today, it remains the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca , the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina , the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. To appreciate its large size, the four minarets of the Badshahi Mosque are 13.9 ft (4.2 m) taller than those of the Taj Mahal and the main platform of the Taj Mahal can fit inside the 278,784 sq ft (25,899.9 m ) courtyard of the Badshahi Mosque, which is the largest mosque courtyard in the world.

Front of the mosque The Badshahi Mosque ( , Imperial Mosque ) in Lahore was commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb . Constructed between 1671 and 1673, it is the second largest mosque in South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. It is Lahore's most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction. The mosque's architectural plan is similar to that of the Jama Masjid in Delhi; it also functions as an idgah . The courtyard which spreads over 276,000 square feet, can accommodate one hundred thousand worshippers and ten thousand worshippers can be accommodated inside the mosque. The minarets are 196 feet (60 m) tall. In 1993, the Government of Pakistan included the Badshahi Mosque in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Badshahi Mosque ( Punjabi and , or "Imperial Mosque") is a Mughal era mosque in Lahore , capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab , Pakistan . The mosque is located west of Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled City of Lahore , and is widely considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks. The Badshahi Mosque was built by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671, with construction of the mosque lasting for two years until 1673. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture , with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest mosque of the Mughal-era, and is the second-largest mosque in Pakistan . After the fall of the Mughal Empire, the mosque was used as a garrison by the Sikh Empire and the British Empire , and is now one of Pakistan's most iconic sights. "Lahore's iconic mosque stood witness to two historic moments where tolerance gave way to brutality" .

Iconic 17th-century Mughal-era mosque in Lahore, Pakistan The Badshahi Mosque ( Urdu : بادشاہی مسجد ) is an iconic Mughal-era congregational mosque in Lahore , capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab . The mosque is located opposite of Lahore Fort in the outskirts of the Walled City and is widely considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks. The Badshahi Mosque was built between 1671 and 1673 and by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb . The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture , with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest mosque of the Mughal-era, and is the third-largest mosque in Pakistan . In 1799, during the rule of Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire , the mosque's courtyard was used as a stable and its hujras (cells) as soldiers quarters. When the British Empire took control of Lahore in 1846 it was used as a garrison until 1852. Subsequently, the Badshahi Mosque Authority was established to oversee its restoration as a place of worship. It is now one of Pakistan's most iconic sights. "Lahore's iconic mosque stood witness to two historic moments where tolerance gave way to brutality" . The Express Tribune (newspaper) . 9 October 2014 .

Mughal-era mosque in Lahore, Pakistan The Badshahi Mosque ( Punjabi : شاہی مسیت , romanized: śāhī masīt ; Urdu : بادشاہی مسجد , romanized : bādśāhī masjid ) is a Mughal-era imperial mosque located in Lahore , Punjab, Pakistan. It was constructed between 1671 and 1673 during the rule of Aurangzeb , opposite of the Lahore Fort on the northern outskirts of the historic Walled City . It is widely considered to be one of the most iconic landmarks of Pakistan. The Badshahi Mosque was built between 1671 and 1673 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture , with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest mosque of the Mughal-era, and is the third-largest mosque in Pakistan . In 1799, during the rule of Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire , the mosque's courtyard was used as a stable and its hujras (cells) as soldiers quarters. When the British Empire took control of Lahore in 1846 it was used as a garrison until 1852. Subsequently, the Badshahi Mosque Authority was established to oversee its restoration as a place of worship. It is now one of Pakistan's most iconic sights. "Lahore's iconic mosque stood witness to two historic moments where tolerance gave way to brutality" . The Express Tribune (newspaper) . 9 October 2014 .