In this Post
Badshahi Mosque, History
Architecture of the Mosque
Badshahi Masjid Location
Badshahi Masjid Opening Hours
Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Entry Fee
Eateries Near Walled City of Lahore
Badshahi Mosque is, hands down, one of the oldest and most popular historical attractions in Lahore. Featuring aesthetically appealing interior and exterior, the mosque has been designed with the finest of Mughal architecture. This majestic structure overlooks the entire Walled City of Lahore. Even at the sunset, the silhouette of Badshahi Masjid, Lahore, amplifies the beauty of the skyline in this part of the city.
So, if you want to know more about this iconic historical landmark in Lahore, then stick around. In this post, we are going to take a look at some incredible facts about Badshahi Masjid.
We’ll begin our virtual tour to one of the greatest mosques in Lahore by learning more about its history. So, here we go!
History of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
Badshahi Masjid in Lahore was opened in 1673. The construction of this gigantic mosque in Lahore was completed in two years. This imperial structure was erected on the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
The mosque was used as a military garrison for a few years by the British Army. It happened after the fall of the Mughal Empire, somewhere in the mid-1800s. However, after facing constant resistance from the entire Muslim community in the subcontinent, the British stopped using it as a garrison.
At the same time, they started the restoration of this place of worship. In fact, a separate authority known as the Badshahi Mosque Authority was established to monitor the restoration work.
The building was officially handed back to the Muslims in the early twentieth century. Badshahi Masjid in Lahore went into another phase of major restoration from 1939 till 1960. This time the restoration project was supervised by Nawab Alam Yar Jang Bahadur. He was a very famous architect of the time.
After a brief overview of the history of Badshahi Masjid, let’s take a look at the architecture of this magnificent structure.
Architecture of Badshahi Mosque in Lahore
The intricate tile work, white marble inlay, and Redstone structure are some of the major highlights of the architecture of Badshahi Masjid in Lahore. The design of this mosque is inspired by Jama Masjid in Delhi but at a much larger scale.
Putting it in numbers, Delhi’s Jama Masjid can accommodate 85,000 worshippers at a time whereas the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore can fit in around 100,000 worshippers on its premises. Jama Masjid in Delhi was built in 1656 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
Quick Fact: Did you know the full name of this historical attraction is Masjid Abul Zafar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Alamgir Badshah Ghazi? You’ll be able to spot the masjid’s full name engraved with marble on the entrance of the building.
The Courtyard
The gigantic structure of Badshahi Masjid makes it one of the most prominent mosques in Lahore. The moment you stop in front of this landmark, you’ll be greeted by a massive gate. As soon as you cross the entrance gate, you’ll step into an expansive courtyard, which can house thousands of worshippers at a time. After a few minutes of walk in the courtyard, you’ll have to climb a few stairs to get into the hall of the mosque.
The Prayer Hall
A two-storey edifice beckons you as you enter the complex. Both interior and exterior of this historical landmark in Lahore are incredibly ornamented with framed and carved paneling. Embossed with white marble having beautiful floral designs, this masjid is one of the most incredible historical landmarks in Lahore.
A central arch niche in the prayer hall houses the main prayer chamber. The mosque has three domes. The largest one of them is in the centre of the mosque with two smaller domes flanking it.
The Minarets
The four minarets of this historical mosque boast an incredibly symmetrical design. With an outer and inner circumference of 67 and 8.5 feet, respectively, each of these minarets is 60 metre (196 feet) tall. A marble canopy is built on top of each minaret.
The mosque has eight minarets in total. The inner building of the mosque has also been equipped with four small-sized minarets. These outstanding architectural features of the structure make it one of the best historical attractions in Lahore.
Location of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
Located in one of the city’s most central parts, as discussed, this grand mosque is found in the heart of the Walled City. One of the biggest highlights of the location of Badshahi Masjid is that presence of many other historical landmarks in Lahore. Some of the most prominent ones among them include Lahore Fort (Shahi Qilla), Shalimar Garden, Minar-e-Pakistan, and Wazir Khan Masjid.
The best route to Badshahi Masjid in Lahore for people travelling from the neighbourhood of DHA is Lahore Ring Road. It will take around half an hour to get to your destination. From Johar Town and Wapda Town, you can use the road link of Canal Bank Road. On the other hand, if you’re visiting from Bahria Town, Lahore, the best route to Badshahi Masjid is Lahore-Islamabad M2 Motorway.
Now, let’s take a look at the timings and ticket price for Badshahi Masjid, one of the best places to visit in Lahore.
Timings of Badshahi Masjid, Lahore
Counted among the most popular landmarks in Lahore, this masjid remains open the entire day, seven days a week. You can easily plan your visit during the below-given timings of Badshahi Masjid.
Badshahi Mosque Opening Hours: 8 am till 8 pm (usually till Isha prayers)
Ticket Price for Badshahi Mosque in Lahore
The ticket price for Badshahi Mosque makes it one of the most affordable places to visit in Lahore. Details about the entry fee to this landmark are as under:
Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Entry Fee: PKR 40
Note: The aforementioned ticket price and timings of this historical attraction in Lahore may vary on public holidays and other special occasions.
Nearby Eateries
Some of the most popular eateries and food streets in Lahore are found in the vicinity of the Walled City, Lahore. As a gastronome, you can dig into fast food items, traditional dishes, and different types of street food snacks in the area. Some of the most prominent eateries you’ll find nearby include:
- Fort View Hotel
- Haveli Restaurant
- Andaaz Restaurant
- Shah Chicken Tawa Roast
- Cooco’s Den
- Shahi Baithak Restaurant
Note: Most of these restaurants are a part of historic food streets in Lahore found in the area. On a side note, to double up your pleasure as a foodie, don’t forget to try Tawa Chicken upon your visit to Badshahi Mosque.
Well, that’s a wrap for our detailed guide on Badshahi Masjid in Lahore. We hope this piece has given you all the information that you were looking for. So, if you’re planning a visit to Badshahi Mosque anytime soon and still have any questions regarding your trip, feel free to contact us at blog@zameen.com.
Share this informative piece among your friends and family to also make them aware of some amazing facts about Badshahi Masjid.
On a side note, you can also take a look at these blogs to explore some other tourist and family attractions in Lahore. We have also written a comprehensive piece on some popular tourist attractions in Punjab that may interest you.
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