The Colorful Curves of Jama Masjid

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Within the chaotic narrow streets of Old Delhi lies the largest mosque in India, the Jama Masjid, whose enormous courtyard has the capacity to hold 25,000 devotees.  Built between 1644 and 1658, this sensational mosque was the last extravagnance commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, whose love for his wife resulted in the world-famous Taj Mahal in Agra and zest for beauty and power built the Red Fort of New Delhi.

The Jama Masjid’s spectacular beauty resides in her masterful architecture of various curving archways, gates, minarets, towers and decorative carvings. Jama Masjid’s brilliant red-hued sandstone juxtaposed against white marble is equally as impressive especially on a sunny, bright day. It took over 6,000 workers, mostly slaves, to build the mosque and today it remains one of India’s crown jewels and an important place of worship.

The entrance is rather daunting as it is so vast inside, and it was so hot. It was 120 degrees farenheit that day and the rules of entering a mosque still applied. No shoes and we had to cover up in a rented robe.

Jennifer James and our guide walking towards the mosque on a rug to protect our feet from the burning red sandstone.

The mosque boasts four towers and two minarets reaching toward the sky.

As we approached the mosque and stepped inside, a sense of peace was overpowering as was a deep understanding of beauty.

Beautifully covered Qurʼans were available for those who wanted to pray.

The detail on the walls and ceilings was breathtaking.

The sacred lotus flower could be found engraved throughout the mosque.

The Kings Door.

Water spouts available for purification.

And as you left the peace and tranquility of the mosque, the hum and buzz of Old Delhi brought you back to earth. This post was written for this week’s Photo Challenge: Curves. I was in Delhi at the end of May for a social good blogging trip with Mom Bloggers for Social Good. To learn more about our trip, see hashtag #socialgoodmomsindia on Twitter or check out my earlier posts. 

31 thoughts on “The Colorful Curves of Jama Masjid”

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes, that is why I put that last photo there. Isn’t it crazy? Old Delhi is something else.

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

      Reply ↓
  4. loca4motion – Phuket, Thailand – Travel feeds my soul. The kick of living in foreign cultures keeps me awake. Photography, writing and the great outdoors are my passions.
    loca4motion on said:

    Lovely photos, Nicole!!!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Lucy! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  5. restlessjo – Hi! I’m Jo! Johanna when I’m feeling posh, Jan to my Dad, and Joasiu to my Polish family. A bit of a mix-up, that’s me. The one constant, however, is my restless nature. I love to travel and to explore our world. It doesn’t have to be the big wide world. I can be ridiculously happy not too far from home, so long as I’m seeking new horizons. Of course I have a wish list, and it was to help me fulfil my dreams that I started to write travel guides for a venture called Simonseeks. I’d always kept a travel diary, and it was hugely satisfying to share my experiences and to make new friends who shared my passion for travel. Alas, Simonseeks hit a few troubles, but I still find myself writing about my travels. I’ve become addicted. I’d love to share them, and to make more friends. So, it has to be a blog- right? Or do I mean- write?
    restlessjo on said:

    Truly beautiful, Nicole. Your details are exquisite. I really love that pile of beloved Qurans, too. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jo! It was really a beautiful place.

      Reply ↓

  6. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge - Curves

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jennifer! It was such a beautiful place!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      You’re welcome! This one is actually the Jama Masjid, made by the same shah as the Taj. 🙂

      Reply ↓

  10. what a difference between inside or outside the building!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes indeed! It is quite a gorgeous place set right inside Old Delhi. What a contrast!

      Reply ↓
  11. Sas – Cardiff, UK – I'm vegan. I love to travel. I challenge myself to visit at least one new place and try at least one new activity every year. When I'm not writing, I like to ski, rock climb, keep fit and bodyboard.
    Sas on said:

    I can’t imagine a mosque so big that it holds so many people! There are a lot of mosques where I used to live in Rhodes (left behind after the Turkish occupation) and also here in Cardiff, and they are very beautiful buildings.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes it is huge inside. I wonder what it would be like during prayer?

      Reply ↓
  12. Marianne – What´s to know? I am a ‘recovering’ criminal lawyer, EFL teacher, petrol-head, amateur photographer, neophyte blogger, traveller, English woman and shameless arctophile!
    Marianne on said:

    Gorgeous photos, Nicole – I felt that I was there with you. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  13. adinparadise – I enjoy writing about anything and everything. It keeps me out of mischief. I love to travel and am fortunate enough to be able to do so quite frequently.
    adinparadise on said:

    Wonderful photos, Nicole. What a contrast between the peace inside, and the hustle and bustle outside. Your final pic is so interesting to just sit and gaze at. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! That is why I put that last one there. I love the contrast and craziness!

      Reply ↓

  14. Your posts and photography are wonderful for the soul. Thanks Nicole. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      So glad you enjoy them LuAnn! That makes me smile! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh they are there! You can see them off in the distance. I guess they used them to deliver messages back hundreds of years ago. Pretty crazy!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes indeed. Magical.

      Reply ↓

  17. Pingback: The tilted view of the streets of Delhi | Thirdeyemom

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