| Chaqchan Mosque | |
|---|---|
مسجد چقچن | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Sect | SufismNoorbakshia |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Khaplu,Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Country | Pakistan |
 Interactive map of Chaqchan Mosque | |
| Coordinates | 35°09′22″N76°19′50″E / 35.156062°N 76.330582°E /35.156062; 76.330582 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | |
| Completed | 1370CE |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 500(including verandah) |
| Spire | One |
TheChaqchan Mosque (Urdu:مسجد چقچن,lit. 'The Miraculous Mosque'[1]) is aSufiNoorbakshiamosque, located in the city ofKhaplu, in theGilgit-Baltistan region of northernPakistan. Dating from 1370, the mosque is one of the oldest in the region, from the time when the area's populace converteden masse fromTibetan Buddhism toIslam.[2][3] The mosque shares similar architecture as those built in theKashmir Valley.[4] It features a blend ofTibetan,Mughal andPersian styles of architecture.[5]
According to some sources, the mosque was built byMir Sayyid Ali Hamadani[6] while others say on the arrival of Sufi saintSyed Nurbakhsh from Kashmir toBaltistan, the local rulingRaja converted to Islam and commissioned the building of the mosque in 1370 CE.[7] However, the dating of the latter theory contradicts historical sources which suggest that the mosque was probably constructed more than two decades before the birth ofSyed Nurbakhsh.
TheGovernment of Pakistan has listed the Chaqchan Mosque as a Pakistan Heritage Site. The mosque is currently in use after extensive conservation works.
Architecturally, the mosque displays a blend ofTibetan,Mughal andPersian styles,[8][9] and consists of a two-story cubic complex: Semi-basement, ground floor with a turret atop. The perimetral walls of the cubic structure are composed of wooden slabs stacked to form a frame with its void spaces daubed with clay or mud that is in fact this technology is similar to the Romanopus craticum technique. This method of construction is one of the oldest known for making a weatherproof structures and it is also suitable for harsh winter conditions.[10][11]
Media related toChaqchan Mosque at Wikimedia Commons
