Visit Taj Ul Masajid: Asia’s 2nd-Largest Mosque

Sultan Shah Jahan, the intrepid heir of Sikandar Begum I, reigned the princely state of Bhopal from 1868 to 1901 and envisioned a grand plan of constructing a magnificent Mosque in Asia. Empress Shah Jahan, the eleventh and last ruler of Bhopal, declared this marvellous creation as ‘Taj Ul Masajid‘, meaning ‘The Crown of All Mosques’. Despite the fact that this majestic Muslim place of worship was only half-complete at the time of her demise in 1901, it was eventually completed in the 1980s. The Taj Ul Masajid is not only the biggest mosque in India but also stands as the second-largest in Asia!

Surrounded by the imposing pink walls of its citadel-like structure, Taj-Ul-Masajid beckons with a stunning 1000 sqft courtyard leading to its prayer hall decorated with 27 ceiling domes and three oval domes, each facing the two magnificent minarets. When I asked my driver from Noor-Us-Sabah Palace if this was the largest mosque in India, he chuckled and replied, “It was when the begum built it!” Taking me around the mosque twice, he regaled me with every interesting detail he could find about it before eventually allowing me to enter the premises through the southern gate.

Taj-Ul-Masajid in Bhopal, though not as large as Delhi’s Jama Masjid, is a magnificent reminder of the grandeur of Mughal architecture. Sprawling across an immense 100-acre landmass, it is draped in a splendid rose pink hue and boasts two entrances, one facing Motia Talab road and the other adjacent to Sultania road. The entrance looking onto the road is off-limits to the public, but it’s worth the effort to have a glimpse of this grand monument!

Follow the maze-like walls of the Masajid and let their intricate designs guide you to the other side of the building. Once you cross the threshold, marvel at the impressive minarets of this grandiose abode of the Almighty.

The amazing Taj-Ul-Masajid has an incredible seating capacity of a whopping 1,70,000, a feat that no other mosque in the entire country of India can boast of! What’s more, it’s not just one building, but a whole collection of mosques that make up this majestic structure! And if that’s not enough, even the entrance to this grandiose mosque is guarded by a small toll.

After a few friendly words between the driver and the man at the gate, our car glided through the grand entrance. The mosque with its majestic minarets seemed to grow larger as we approached. It was a stunning sight and the tranquility around it was so powerful that I felt I could almost touch it! Even though it was only early evening, the peaceful atmosphere of the mosque made the experience even more unforgettable.

The two grand 18-story minarets stand tall as the crowning glory of the pink mosque facade, adorned with marble domes, like pearls adorning a magnificent rose crown. The captivating hallways are patterned with petal designs and curved archways, while the ceilings and interiors are embellished with poetic artistry. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the morning azan or the evening Muslim call to prayer, when hundreds of people flock to this Masajid. Are women allowed inside? To a certain extent, yes! 

Although women are unable to enter the general prayer room, there is a separate chamber set aside for them. Unfortunately, only men are allowed within the confines of the community prayer room. I made a pilgrimage to the majestic mosque, which boasts India’s largest and most impressive ablution tank, complete with a tranquil fish pond. Even more remarkable is the story behind it; it was the vision of the great Begum Shah Jahan that brought this architectural wonder to life.

In the Islamic faith, the more people who offer prayers, the greater Allah’s benevolence. The benevolent queen of Bhopal wanted to create a place of worship capable of accommodating thousands of devotees, and so she made it happen! For just ₹50, you can catch an autorickshaw from Kali Mandir or Itwara Market and experience this marvelous building yourself.

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