Badshahi Mosque

One of four octagonal minarets

The massive entrance to the mosque with its flight of 22 steps.

The prayer chamber is in the centre.
You can see frescoes and marble inlay here.

 

I've just been looking through my camera and since I'm still 'waiting' I thought you might like to see some of the photos I took while visiting Badshahi Mosque last week.

 

The Mosque was build in the 1670's and for a long time was the largest Mosque in the world. 

Today it is 5th largest and can accommodate 55,000 worshippers. 

It is built of kiln bricks and redstone and was brought back to its original condition in the late 1990's.  It is decorated with frescoes and marble

inlay.

I read somewhere that it was at this Mosque that the late Princess Diana was criticised for not wearing appropriate dress. 

I was well covered so didn't hit the headlines!

 

 

 

Minarets topped with marble canopys.

 



There is security everywhere.
This gentleman was friendly and delighted to sit for his photo.

There is a room which houses a Koran.

It is displayed in glass cases.

There are thirty chapters, written in the form of thirty books, all written in gold and silver, on cloth.

Beautiful.  We were told to put our cameras away.  I think they believe that such sacred things should not be photographed.

 

 

 

The paved courtyard enclosed by single-aisled arcades. 
The grey strip to the right is a heavy cloth that should be kept wet for people to walk on.  We entered in bare feet and that morning the dry 'carpet' was as hot as the paving.  The soles of our feet were burning!

 

Looking down one of the arcades.