Nakhoda Mosque

Nakhoda Mosque, on the corner of Rabindra Sarani and Zakaria Street in the Burrabazar district of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, is the city's largest mosque and one of its most recognisable religious buildings. It was completed in 1926 and built by the Cutchi Memon community, with a design inspired by the Mughal tomb of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra. The building is faced in red sandstone and features two tall minarets, a large central dome, smaller domed kiosks and a broad arched entrance, with a prayer hall that can hold thousands of worshippers. Interior spaces are decorated with arches, carved panels and calligraphy, and the courtyard and ablution tank are used by large crowds on Fridays and on festival days such as Eid. The mosque rises above the crowded wholesale market of Zakaria Street, with its shops selling dates, perfumes, attar, caps and religious goods, which adds to the atmosphere, particularly during Ramadan when the lanes fill with food stalls in the evening. Visitors can see the exterior and often the courtyard, and men may be allowed to enter the prayer hall outside prayer times, while access for women is restricted and visitors should check locally before attempting to enter. Modest dress is required, with covered arms and legs, and shoes must be removed at the entrance. A visit takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the best time is midday outside prayer times, when the mosque is quiet but the surrounding lanes remain lively. Fridays around the noon prayers are very crowded and not suitable for sightseeing. Photography of the exterior is common, and visitors should ask before photographing worshippers or the interior. The mosque is a short walk from the Armenian Church and Mullick Ghat flower market, making it a convenient stop on a Burrabazar walking route.