Masjid Wazir Khan

The Wazir Khan Mosque, built during the Mughal Empire in the 17th century, is the mosque in the old city with the most elaborate decorations. It is a large mosque that stands near the Delhi gate of the walled city of Lahore. The mosque is surrounded by a lively bazaar where you can hear the blasting horns and arguing voices of shoppers. The mosque's intricately designed interior and exterior transport you to a time when Muslims ruled the subcontinent. The mosque's intricate wall designs, mosaics, also known as kashi kari, fresco paintings, engraved stones, and brick outline fresco all contribute to its singularity. It was constructed around the historic grave of the revered saint Syed Mohammad Ishaq Gazrooni, also known as Miran Badshah. In the 13th century, he left Iran and settled in Lahore during the reign of the Turkish-Muslim Tughlaq dynasty. The Wazir Khan Mosque was a part of a bigger complex that also had a series of bazaars where bookbinders and calligraphers repaired sacred manuscripts and painted verses from the Quran. Its four minarets, which are typical of mosques and serve to denote the corners of a sizable courtyard, add to its richness and majesty. The construction and style of the Wazir Khan Mosque are most typical of the Mughal era, with bricks and tiles gracing the walls. The mosque's main entrance is through a sizable Aiwan that looks out onto Wazir Khan Chowk. The Islamic creed is written on the wall above the Aiwan. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Quranic verses are inscribed on the façade at the entrance. Five compartments are topped by a dome that leads to a sizable courtyard. The largest prayer hall, constructed by Persian architectural traditions, is the central hall. A square pavilion, better known as Char Taq, is formed by the enormous dome resting on four arches. Islamic representations of a paradise are painted in elaborate frescoes on the underside of the dome. Trees and platters of food being served will be visible. The Wazir Khan Mosque was the first mosque of its kind in Lahore at the time, which is another intriguing aspect of it. Later, other mosques, including Badshahi Mosque, adopted a similar strategy. Of all the mosques constructed during the Mughal era, the Wazir Khan Mosque possesses the best mosaic tile work. The Quranic texts are written in exquisite handwriting and hung on the walls. There are also flowery motifs and elaborate decorations that evoke a sense of serenity and spirituality. The building's distinctive fusion of geometrical designs, calligraphy, Persian themes, and floral patterns gives it an unrestricted air of grandeur and wealth.