Alamgir Mosque

The Alamgir Mosque, Varanasi, also known as Beni Madhav ka Darera and Aurangzeb's Mosque, is a mosque built in the 17th century by Mughal king Aurangzeb in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.[1][2]. The Mosque is also known as Dharahara Mosque.

Alamgir Mosque, Varanasi
Beni Madhav ka Darera
Aurangzeb's Mosque
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusFunctional
Location
LocationVaranasi, India 25.31 N 83.01 E
StateUttar Pradesh
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Geographic coordinates25.311°N 83.01°E / 25.311; 83.01
Architecture
FounderAurangzeb


Location

The Dharhara mosque is situated on the left side of the holy river Ganga at a distance of about 6 km towards east from the Varanasi Cantt Railaway station. It is an example of Hindu-Mughal style of architecture. Dharhara Masjid at Panch Ganga Ghat can easily be approached from the river front side by a boat from Dashashvamedh Ghat. This monument is locally called as Madhodas Ka Dharhara. It is said that the foundation of this building is as deep as the height of this building.

History

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu temple, built by Raja Man Singh of Amber in 16 Century, it was demolished when the emperor Aurangzeb had captured Banaras and razed the temple. Aurangzeb then built a mosque over the ruins of the temple in 1669[3] and named it as Alamagir Mosque in the name of his own honorific title "Alamgir", which he had adopted after becoming the emperor of the Mughal empire.[4][5] Non-Muslims are allowed to enter the mosque.

Features
Aurangzeb Mosque or Alamgir Mosque

The mosque is architecturally a blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture.[4] The mosque has high domes and minarets.[6][5] Two of its minarets were damaged; one minaret collapsed killing a few people and the other was officially brought down owing to stability concerns.[5] The Panchaganga Ghat where the mosque is situated is where five streams are said to join. In October lamps are lighted on top of a bamboo staff as a mark of guidance to the ancestors.[6]

Interior view

References
  1. Gupta 1987, p. 38.
  2. Crowther, Raj & Wheeler 1984.
  3. Dunlop, Sykes & Jackson 2001, p. 135.
  4. Kumar 2003, p. 90.
  5. Betts & McCulloch 2013, p. 213.
  6. Shetty 2014, p. 73.

Bibliography
  • Betts, Vanessa; McCulloch, Victoria (27 September 2013). India – The North: Forts, Palaces, the Himalaya Dream Trip. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-907263-74-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Crowther, Geoff; Raj, Prakash A.; Wheeler, Tony (1984). India, a Travel Survival Kit. Lonely Planet.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Dunlop, Fiona; Sykes, Carol; Jackson, Felicity (2001). Fodor's Exploring India. Fodor's Travel Publications. ISBN 978-0-679-00707-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Hussain, Ansar (1 January 1999). Rediscovery of India, The: A New Subcontinent. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-1595-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Kumar, Brajesh (2003). Pilgrimage Centres of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7182-185-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Shetty, Rekha (1 May 2014). Innovation Sutra: The Secret of Good Business and a Good Life. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-93-5118-696-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Vit-Suzan, Dr Ilan (28 March 2014). Architectural Heritage Revisited: A Holistic Engagement of its Tangible and Intangible Constituents. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4724-2064-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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