| Jumma Masjid | |
|---|---|
 The ruins of the mosque with a column on its corner | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam(former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque(former) |
| Status | Abandoned (partial ruinous state) |
| Location | |
| Location | Uparkot Fort,Junagadh,Gujarat |
| Country | India |
  Location of the mosque ruins inGujarat | |
| Coordinates | 21°31′29″N70°28′12″E / 21.5247°N 70.47°E /21.5247; 70.47 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Palace /Fort |
| Funded by | Mahmud Begada |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Materials | Brick |
Building details | |
| Alternative names | Ranakdevi Mahal |
| General information | |
| Renovated | 2020 |
| Management | Government of Gujarat |
| Designations | State Protected Monument (S-GJ-115) |
TheJumma Masjid orJama Masjid is a formerFriday mosque, now in partial ruins, inUparkot Fort inJunagadh, in the state ofGujarat,India. The mosque was built in 15th century by converting a temple or a palace identified asRanakdevi Mahal by local people and theArchaeological Survey of India.[1] The structure is a Protected Monument in the state of Gujarat.[2]
The Jumma Masjid (Friday Mosque) was built byMahmud Begada in 15th century following capture of Junagadh in 1472.[3][4][5] It is evidently constructed from the materials of aHindu orJain temple[1][4] or previously existing palace.[3][5] The palace is now identified as Ranakdevi Mahal by local people attributing it toRanakdevi, the legendary queen ofChudasama rulerKhengara.[1][3][6][4][5]
The Jumma Masjid and cannons are enlisted as the State Protected Monument (S-GJ-115) by Archaeology Department of theGovernment of Gujarat.[7][8] In 2020, the Gujarat tourism department placed a board marking the place as Jami Masjid–Ranakdevi Mahal. The local Rajput community objected to the identification as a mosque and protested. Later the board was removed.[9]
As of 2020[update], the former mosque was being restored under Uperkot Fort Restoration Project of theGovernment of Gujarat.[10]
The mosque is built on a brick platform and looks like a citadel. It has solid thick walls and a slim column rising from a corner. The column looks more like a turret than a minaret. The mosque was never finished and the part of its hall is open to sky.[5] There is a staircase leading to terraced roof. It was reinstalled during the restoration.[4][10][11]
Facing the walls, outside the mosque, there is a huge bell-metal cannon called Nilam which has 25-centimetre (10 in) bore, and is 5.2 metres (17 ft) long and 1.42 metres (4 ft 8 in) round at the mouth. This cannon was brought fromDiu, where it was left by theOttoman admiral Suleyman Pasha following their defeat insiege of Diu (1538) while assistingGujarat Sultanate against their struggle withPortuguese. There is an Arabic inscription at the muzzle, which may be translated: "The order to make this cannon, to be used in the service of the Almighty, was given by the Sultan of Arabia and Persia, Sultan Sulaiman, son of Salim Khan. May his triumph be glorified, to punish the enemies of the State and of the Faith, in the capital of Egypt, 1531." At the breech is inscribed: "The work of Muhamman, the son of Hamzah." Another large cannon called Kadanal, also from Diu, in the southern portion of the fort, is 4.0 metres (13 ft) long, and has a muzzle 1.2 metres (4 ft) in diameter.[4][5]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
Media related toJama Masjid, Uperkot at Wikimedia Commons
