“Big Mosque.” That is what Kalan Masjid means. But did you know many call it Kali Masjid or Black Mosque because of the black stone used to build it?
Welcome to the Kalan Masjid in Old Delhi. It’s a 14th-century mosque with a fascinating story. Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah built this mosque in 1387. He was the vizier or Prime Minister during Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s reign.
Imagine Delhi in the late 1300s. Firuz Shah Tughlaq ruled. He built many structures across his empire. Khan-i-Jahan also built mosques. Some say he built seven mosques. The Kalan Masjid is the most famous of them all. Khan-i-Jahan sought to please Allah. He hoped to secure a place in paradise.
The Kalan Masjid stands in Shahjahanabad today. This area is now Old Delhi. Houses of three to four stories surround the mosque. It is hidden. You access it through a narrow street off Sita Ram Bazar Road.
The mosque was once surrounded by low masonry structures. By 1840, a village had sprung up around it. Today, the Kalan Masjid is embedded in a poor area. But the mosque is intact. It is well maintained by the Delhi Waqf board.
Step closer and observe the Kalan Masjid’s architecture. It is a rectangular building. It measures about 41 meters by 34 meters. That’s 135 feet by 112 feet. The mosque rises about 20 meters high. That’s 66 feet. It has two stories.
Notice the high plinth. It is about 8.53 meters or 28 feet. Vaulted cells line its periphery. These cells are accessible around its base. The outer walls are thick. They measure about 1.65 meters or 5.5 feet. The walls are built of stone rubble masonry. Look at the merlon pattern in plaster relief. Dark green and white paint highlight it. Conical towers stand at the corners of the mosque. A square domed entrance gateway protrudes from the eastern side. A flight of 32 steps leads to this gateway.
Enter the mosque. It divides into 9 by 7 structural bays. An open courtyard lies in the eastern half. Arcades with square domed bays surround the courtyard on three sides. A square ablution pool sits at the center.
On the western side is the prayer hall. It’s about the same size as the courtyard. Stone piers divide it into 3 aisles and 5 rows. Five mihrab niches are in the west wall. Rooms surround the prayer hall on the north, south, and west sides.
Originally, black stone gave the Kalan Masjid its name. But now, gray floor tiles cover the floors. Green, aquamarine blue, and white paint adorn the walls. Not a single black surface remains today.
Imagine the Kalan Masjid a hundred years ago. It stood alone atop a hillock. Its high plinth was visible from all sides. The double-storied building was a sight to behold. Today, houses surround it. Yet, it remains a significant landmark. The Kalan Masjid is more than a building. It is a testament to Delhi’s rich history. It reflects the architectural patronage of its time. Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah’s legacy lives on in this beautiful mosque.