Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid stands on Makkah Masjid Road beside Charminar in Hyderabad's Old City, Telangana, India, and is among the largest mosques in the country. Work began in 1617 under Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah and was completed in 1694 under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The prayer hall is a vast granite space with massive arches, and its main hall can hold about 10,000 worshippers. Local tradition says that bricks over the central arch were made from soil brought from Mecca, which gave the mosque its name. The courtyard is lined with the tombs of the Asaf Jahi rulers, and pigeons and worshippers move through the space throughout the day. Visitors see tall, plain arches, stone columns cut from single granite slabs, minarets and a large ablution tank in the courtyard. A visit takes about 45 minutes. Morning is the best time: the courtyard is quiet, the stone is cool, and the light on the arches is soft. Friday midday prayers draw enormous crowds of worshippers, and non-worshippers are asked to avoid visiting at that time, as well as during the other daily prayer times. The mosque is free to enter. Visitors should dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and women should cover their heads. Footwear is removed at the entrance, and the stone floor can be very hot at midday in summer. Photography of the exterior and courtyard is generally accepted, but visitors should be respectful of people praying and ask before photographing individuals. The mosque adjoins Charminar and Laad Bazaar, so the three are commonly visited together on foot. Around Ramzan and Eid the area becomes very busy, and access may be restricted.