Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore
The Wazir Khan Mosque is a beautifully ornate mosque located in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, and is well worth a visit for anyone interested in Islamic architecture or Pakistani culture.
The distinctive architectural element of the Mosque is the usage of minarets in each of the four corners of the Mosque. The hall of the prayer follows the five-bay, one-aisle motif which first appeared in Lahore in the Maryam Zamani Mosque, a generation earlier, and was eventually fully expressed at the Badshahi Mosque, completed half a century ago by Emperor Aurangzeb. Most of the mosque is made of cut brick decorated with patterns of glossy tile.
How to Get Wazir Khan Masjid?
To get to the Wazir Khan Mosque, take a taxi or rickshaw from anywhere in Lahore. The mosque is located in the heart of the city, so it should be easy to find. Expect to pay around 100 rupees for a ride there.
Things to consider before visiting the Masjid:
When you arrive at the mosque, be sure to take off your shoes and cover your head before entering. The mosque is open from 7am to sunset, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly.
Inside the mosque, you'll find beautiful floral designs, intricate carvings, and stunning tile work. Don't forget to check out the prayer hall, which can accommodate up to 10,000 people.
Building began in 1634 or 1635, and was completed in around seven years, at the time when emperor Shah Jahan reigned Mughal. In the late 1880's, Kipling's father, John Lockwood, had written about the mosque in the former Journal of Indian Art and its decorative features. In 1903, Fred Henry Andrews, the British scholar, remarked that the Mosque was in decline.