Jama Masjid, Shamsi

For similarly named mosques, see List of grand mosques.

The Jama Masjid Shamsi (Bengali: বড় মসজিদ, বুদাউন), also known as the Jama Shamsi Shahi,^[2] 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.

Jama Masjid Shamsi
The mosque façade in 2018
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Friday mosque
Status	Active
Location
Location	Budaun, Bareilly division, Uttar Pradesh
Country	India
Location of the mosque in Uttar Pradesh
Geographic coordinates	28°02′19″N 79°07′19″E
Architecture
Type	Mosque architecture
Style	Persian
Founder	Iltutmish
Completed	1210 - 1223
Specifications
Capacity	23,500 worshippers
Height (max)	47 m (155 ft)
Dome(s)	8
Dome dia. (outer)	11 m (36 ft)
Dome dia. (inner)	10 m (34 ft)
Materials	Red sandstone; white marble
Monument of National Importance
Official name	Jami Masjid
Reference no.	N-UP-A118
Location of the mosque in Budaun
[1]

The mosque is a Monument of National Importance, administered by the Archaeological Survey of India,^[3] 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 30 metres (100 ft) 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 (SangeMarMar). It has a "Hauz" (pond) 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.^[4]

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^{[clarification needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

Links with Hinduism

In October 2022, rightwing Hindu nationalist organisations claimed the site as one where a Hindu temple served as a foundation for the mosque. They called for demolishing the mosque for what they called reclaiming the site as a Hindu temple.^[5][6]

Gallery

• 
  A direct view from door number 2 situated on the either side of the mosque

See also

• India portal
• Islam portal

• Islam in India
• List of mosques in India
• List of Monuments of National Importance in Agra circle