Shah Hamadan Mosque

File / Documentation

Name

125294_sv.jpg

Size

3.55 MB

Format

JPEG

Checksum (MD5)

22fd60e0667d7d8e09ca5544f9e7be19

Creator(s)

Indian (South Asian), Islamic

Time period

creation date: original structure, 1395, other date: destroyed by fire, reconstructed and expanded, 1480, other date: demolished and rebuilt as a two-story structure, 1493, destruction date: destroyed by fire, 1731, creation date: reconstructed by Abul Barkat Khan, after 1731

Location

Site: Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir, India)

Cultural context

Indian (South Asian)

Islamic

Description

The Shah Hamadan mosque neatly fits [the] local typology of mosque architecture. It has a square plan measuring approximately 75'-6" (23m) on each side and sits on an irregular walled base composed of materials from ancient temples. It is a two-storeyed, two-tiered structure with gently sloping, pyramidal roofs differentiating each tier. The roofs are further emphasized by heavy woodwork done on the cornices under the eaves. The first tier has double-arcaded verandahs running continuously around the building, the only break being for the canopied main entrance. The second tier is more of an arcaded balcony that protrudes on all four sides of the main structure. The arcaded verandahs and balconies with their delicate wooden grilles (pinjras) and slender columns not only lend structural support to the roof but also create the impression that the 52'-6" (16m)-tall mosque is soaring into the sky. The pyramidal roof of the second tier is capped off by an open pavilion for the muezzin, which in turn is crowned by a sharp pyramidal spire. The base of the spire has a protruding triangular decorative window on each face and has a golden end ornament (alem) at the apex. Parts of the roof have over time been covered with seasonally flowering vegetation, creating a charming image of intricate woodwork and terraced flowerbeds.
Souce: Archnet

plan (drawing), plan of 2nd floor level, from Archaeological Survey of India 1907 report, 1907

Work type

Mosque

Medium

wood (plant material)

log (wood)

Keywords

Domes

Mosques

Building, Wooden

Vernacular architecture

Shrines