It took around five thousand workers who toiled for six years and about a million of rupees to build the mosque. Even today, it is the largest mosque and the most famous in India. Like the other structures built by the Mughals, this one is also made of marble and red sandstone. This historical extravaganza also saw several attacks and plundering of its important contents.
There are three gateways to the mosque one each on the north, south and the east through steps that used to have shops and stalls. The eastern gate that is the largest and the highest, was used by the emperor to enter the mosque. The entrance leads to a vast rectangular courtyard or prayer hall around 75 m by 65 m, that can accommodate 25,000 people.
Crowds of people gather on religious occasions such as Ramzan and Id. The western chamber stands on 260 pillars carved in the Hindu and Jain forms which is quite strange for a Muslim mosque to adorn.
The west facing mosque stands on a 1.5 m high plinth and has a flight of steps taking to the interiors. Black marble borders are used for markings of three feet length and 1.5 m in width, for worshipers to offer prayers in such columns which are 899 in number. Mats are spread on the marble floor following the Muslim prayer traditions.
The onion-shaped domes, towers, tapering minarets and the prayer hall are the main attractions to be seen in Jama Masjid.The mosque preserves priceless relics of Prophet Mohammad, like his footwear, his footprint, a red beard-hair and Quran written on deer-skin in a closet that make the mosque a sacred place to offer prayers.
The mosque overlooks the most ethnic and vibrant mosques of Delhi, Chandni Chowk and overlooks the gigantic Red Fort, which holds a lot of historical significance.
The mosque is open on all days except during prayer hours.
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