For a visitor Hyderabad as a location can be extremely interesting to explore. Especially for people who love delving deep into history they will find some really astonishing locations to visit here. The formations, structures and the monuments here reflect the glorious days of the past. And for travelers exploring these structures can be extremely interesting as well. One such important location in the city is Mecca Masjid Hyderabad. Even though it is an important site of pilgrimage for the Muslims but it is also a popular sightseeing spot in the city as well. The beautiful structure of the masjid as well as the history attached to it makes it an interesting location. And for the Muslim pilgrims also this is one of the most important mosques for praying as well.
Mecca Masjid Hyderabad
If you are ever visiting Hyderabad then you should definitely check out this masjid. You can also check out the beautiful Mecca Masjid Hyderabad images and you would understand how beautiful this structure looks. The intricate work and the majestic carvings are something that needs more attention. It is furthermore a huge mosque and an important tourist site in Hyderabad. No matter which faith you are from, a visit to this beautiful masjid would be an enriching experience for you. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Mecca Masjid. This will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to this masjid in Hyderabad.
Location: Laad Bazaar Road, Khilwat, Charminar, Hyderabad, Telangana
Timings: The Mecca Masjid Hyderabad timings are from 4 am to 9:30 pm. Mecca Masjid Hyderabad namaz timings vary regularly according to the Islamic calendar. These are Fazr, Sunrise, Duhur, Asr, Maghrib, Isha.
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. From the airport the masjid is located at a distance of 14.8 km. It would approximately take around 35 minutes to reach the location from the airport. Regular city buses are available from the airport that you can opt for to reach the masjid. Also you can take a car or else hire a cab from the airport as well to reach the location from the airport.
By train
While travelling in a train the nearest major railway station is the Nampally railway station. From the Nampally Station the Mecca Masjid Hyderabad is located about 5.9 km away. It would approximately take you around 20 minutes to reach the location from the railway station. You can easily take an auto rickshaw from the railway station to reach the mosque. Or else you can opt for a cab or hire a car as well from the railway station to reach the Mecca Masjid conveniently.
By road
The city buses are an easy way of communication in and around the city of Hyderabad. So you can definitely take buses to reach the Mecca Masjid. The masjid is located close to the Charminar Bus Stand. So if you are taking a bus then you need to get down at the Charminar Bus Stand. The Charminar Bus Stand is located at a distance of 400 meters from the masjid. It would take you around 4 minutes to reach the location from the bus stop. You can either take an auto rickshaw to reach the location of the Mecca Masjid. Or else you can walk up to the masjid in about 5 to 6 minutes as well.
Auto rickshaws are also a convenient mode of transport if you are travelling shorter distances. So you can take auto rickshaws from different directions to reach the masjid. Or else you can opt for a car or hire a cab as well to reach the masjid from various locations.
By metro
You can travel by metro to reach the Mecca Masjid as well. If you are travelling by metro then the nearest metro station to the masjid is the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station Metro Station in the Green Line. From there the distance of the masjid is about 3.5 km away. It would take you around 12 minutes to reach the location from the metro station in Hyderabad.
Overview of Mecca Masjid Hyderabad
Mecca Masjid or the Makkah Masjid is one of the popular tourist spots in Hyderabad. Not only for devotees but even for tourists and locals this is a popular site to visit in the city of Hyderabad. What makes this mosque so attractive is that it is not just one of the biggest mosques in India but in the whole world as well. Also it is one of the oldest mosques that you can visit in the city as well. The construction of this mosque was commissioned in 1614. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah put in a lot of effort to finally complete the construction in 1694. The construction continued for about 77 years and it involved more than 8000 masons as well.
Located in the old city only at 100 meters distance from the famous monument of Charminar, this mosque also attracts a huge number of visitors on a daily basis. The area also houses the Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazar and of course Charminar. And including the Mecca Masjid this area attracts a huge number of visitors who love exploring these heritage locations. The mosque is huge in size and has the capacity to accommodate more than a thousand people at the same time. The grandeur of the Quli Dynasty still reflects from the structure. From intricate patterns to majestic carvings it also reflects the finest craftsmanship of skilled artisans.
History of Mecca Masjid
The construction of this grand mosque goes back to the reign of Muhammand Quli Qutub Shah. He was the fifth Qutub Shahi ruler in the city of Hyderabad. He laid the foundation stone of this mosque in 1614. After that more than 8000 skilled workers started working tirelessly to construct this grand structure. It took almost 77 years to finally complete the whole construction. During the completion Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had already overthrown the Qutub Shahi rulers. So the construction saw its completion in the hands of Emperor Aurangzeb. Furthermore he also commissioned some renovations and repairs of the structure as well.
In the year 2007 the mosque actually suffered a terrorist attack. A bomb blasted in the main prayer hall that claimed the lives of sixteen victims. The police also discovered two more live bombs at the spot but they soon defused them. Also the police could not track the perpetrators at that time. The whole community however had immense faith in their Almighty. The faith that they had further helped them to overcome this setback. And currently the Mecca Masjid Hyderabad is one of the most popular holy places to visit in the country.
Architecture of Mecca Masjid
The architecture of the grand mosque is also something that makes it a magnificent location. The architecture of this mosque is both grand as well as the details take away all the attention. There is a grand gateway that leads to the path to the entrance of the court. This is the location where you will find a beautiful water fountain. Along with that there is a vast pond of water that is located just next to it. According to belief a person who sits on the benches by the pond once definitely revisits again in this lifetime. The main prayer hall of the masjid is yet another major attraction here which is about 75 feet high and 180 feet in length. Furthermore the hall has a capacity to accommodate about 1000 people at a time.
You will also find 15 ornamental arches that decorate the roof of this hall beautifully. Along with that you will also find beautiful chandeliers here as well that are brought from Belgium. The arches here support the three main walls of the construction. It is set in such a way that five arches here support each of the walls here. You will also find Sermons from the Holy Quran carved in the surface of the arches as well. Furthermore there are beautiful carvings of floral motifs here in the arches that reflect the typical style of the Qutub Shahi Architectural style.
What’s more?
Here you will find columns at the Mecca Masjid Hyderabad that are octagonal in shape. They rise much higher and then end in the shape of a spire dome. Inside the dome there are five pathways leading to the tombs of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty. There are some tombs at the zenith of the mosque which were originally not a part of this construction. Later during the Mughal rule, the Mughals had added them. Also there is a single strand of hair of Prophet Mohammad here that is one of the heritage items here.
The atmosphere of the masque is divine and serene. Especially during the Friday prayers it seems even more serene. There are provisions to feed pigeons here as well. It is believed that feeding them is a noble act and therefore the devotees indulge in this activity here. For a devotee this is the perfect place to pray to the Almighty and also to seek his blessings. So if you wish to pray here you can definitely visit the mosque.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Mecca Masjid Hyderabad and you can surely plan a visit to this location in Hyderabad. The Mecca Masjid is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage for the devotees. And if you are in the city then you can surely pay a visit to this mosque. Especially if you are visiting during the time of the Friday prayers it would feel even more enriching. So when are you planning a visit to the Mecca Masjid? And let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to the Mecca Masjid Hyderabad.
