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                         Kalan Masjid

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Location: Near Razia Sultan's tomb on the Turkman Bazaar Road

Famous as: Kali Masjid and one of the oldest mosques of the Old Delhi

Open: On all days

Admission: Free and open to all

How to Reach: Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this century old mosque or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or metro rail.

Preferred Timings: Sunrise to Sunset

Photography charges: nil

Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station

Nearest Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar

Functional Metro Station: Chawri Bazaar

Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport

Time required for sightseeing: Approx 20 minutes

Kalan Masjid, known locally as Kali Masjid is one of the seven mosques that were built by prime minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351-88), Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah. Located near Razia Sultan's tomb on the Turkman Bazaar Road, the mosque can also be reached by taking the Sita Ram Bazaar Road. An important mosque of Feroz Shah's city, Ferozabad, it was built in 1387 much before the city of Shahjahanabad was completed. The mosque was comparatively constructed on a large scale with 'three-aisle deep prayer chamber, pierced by five openings' and thus was named Kalan, which means big in the Arabic language.

Few characteristics like low domes, sloping minarets and chhajjas of the mosque reflect the typical Tughlaq style of architecture. The courtyard of the mosque is too surrounded by domed cloisters. The entrance of the mosque is from the eastern side and has a high flight of steps that takes directly into the courtyard. Every fourth step is a bit wider than the other steps so that devotees especially women can rest and then move forward. The mosque soon got a new name, Kali meaning black colored by the local population, as initially the outer walls of the mosque were black in color.

Annual Event/Special Event

The mosque is at its best during Muslim festivals of Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Zoha when at a time thousands of devotees offer their prayers in the courtyard. There is festival and carnival like atmosphere in the area

Nearby Tourist Attractions

Turkman Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Dargah of Hazrat Turkman Bayabani, Razia Sultan's tomb, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Rajghat

Nearby Places to Eat

Karim Hotel, Ghantewala sweet shop, food stalls near Jama Masjid, Paranthewali gali, Natraj hotel, Chor Bizarre of Broadway Hotel, Daryaganj's Flora, Peshwari, Moti Mahal Restaurant, Worker's canteen of Inter-State Bus terminal and many roadside food stalls are there for refreshment.

Nearby Shopping Venues

Chandni Chowk (curios, souvenirs, silver and glass bead jewellery) Nai Sarak (books), Chor bazaar (electronic goods), Daryaganj book market (on Sunday) and Chatta Chowk in Red Fort (traditional and contemporary jewellery and handicrafts)

More Old Delhi Attractions
 

Red Fort  Jama Masjid  Chandni Chowk  Fatehpuri Masjid  Zinat-ul-Masjid  Khari Baoli  Sadar Bazaar  Darya Ganj  Gurudwara Sisganj  Dara Shikoh's Library  British Magazine  Gadodia Market  Haveli of Mirza Ghalib  Nai Sadak  Urdu Park

Telegraph Memorial  Gates of Old Delhi  William Fraser's Bungalow  St James Church  Salimgarh Fort  Ghiyasuddin's Madarssah  Lothian Cemetery  Begum Samru's palace  Sunehri Masjid  Baptist Church  Sultan Razia's tomb  Digambar Jain temple  Kinari Bazar  Maulana Azad's Tomb  St. Stephens Church

Chawri Bazar  Jain Bird Hospital  Jain Swetambara Temple  Car Parts Bazar  Kalan Masjid  Haider Quli Khan's Gateway  Dariban Kalan  Gauri Shankar Temple  Fountain Chowk  Feroze Shah Kotla  Khuni Darwaza  Meena Bazar  Nehar Wali Haweli  Zinat Mahal

 

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