| Moti Masjid | |
|---|---|
 The mosquefaçade in 2011 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Friday mosque |
| Status | Active[clarification needed] |
| Location | |
| Location | Agra Fort,Agra,Uttar Pradesh |
| Country | India |
  Location of the mosque inUttar Pradesh | |
| Administration | Archaeological Survey of India |
| Coordinates | 27°10′49″N78°01′18″E / 27.18028°N 78.02167°E /27.18028; 78.02167 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | |
| Founder | Shah Jahan |
| Completed | 1653CE |
| Construction cost | 2 lakhs 60 thousand rupees[citation needed] |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 71.4 m (234 ft)[1] |
| Width | 57.2 m (188 ft)[1] |
| Dome | Three(maybe more) |
| Materials | Marble |
| Official name | Agra Fort: Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque |
| Reference no. | N-UP-A1-s |
 Interactive map of Moti Masjid | |
| Official name | Agra Fort |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii) |
| Reference | 251 |
| Inscription | 1984 (8thSession) |
 Location of the mosque inAgra Fort | |
TheMoti Masjid (lit. 'Pearl Mosque') is aSunniFriday mosque, situated in theAgra Fort, aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site, located inAgra, in the state ofUttar Pradesh, India. Built in the 17th-century byMughal EmperorShah Jahan, the mosque is made entirely of whitemarble.[2]
The mosque is aMonument of National Importance, administered by theArchaeological Survey of India.[3]
The Agra Fort's modern appearance is largely owed to Shah Jahan, who dismantled several structures within the Agra Fort to add his own in marble. The Moti Masjid was one such structure. The mosque was constructed in the period 1646-1653, which was notably later than all of his other Agra Fort contributions (these were commenced in 1627, his first regnal year, and completed in 1638). The mosque's completion in 1653 was five years after the Mughal residence had shifted toShahjahanabad. When Shah Jahan visited the mosque upon its completion, he was so impressed with the structure that he returned two years later to show two of his sons.[4][5]
The mosque complex, built on a high plinth, is a walled enclosure situated to the north of the fort's courtyard. It lies on an east-west axis, and faces theYamuna river. The outside of the walls is clad in red sandstone, while the inside bears marble. A high entryway is situated in the centre of each wall; the eastern one serves as the main entrance.[1][5]
Inside the enclosure walls is a nearly-square courtyard, lined by arcades on the north, south, and eastern edges. An ablution pool lies in the centre of the courtyard.[1]
On the western edge lies the main prayer hall itself, amulti-bayed aisle structure supported by twelve-sided piers. The façade of the hall bears seven entryways, while the roof features three domes and severalchhatri. The front of the hall is shaded by a deepchhajja (eave), under which are Persian inscriptions in black marble. The inscriptions employ complex imagery to glorify Shah Jahan and the Moti Masjid. The interior of the prayer hall does not bear much decoration; Asher notes that the use of undecorated marble is typical of Shah Jahan's private religious architecture.[2][5][1]
The Moti Masjid displays much influence from an earlier marble congregational mosque, constructed by Shah Jahan at theAjmer Sharif Dargah.[2][5]
Tourist attractions in and nearAgra | ||
|---|---|---|
| World Heritage Sites |  | |
| Mughal architecture | ||
| Mosques | ||
| Other religious places | ||
| Shopping | ||
| Gardens | ||
| Wildlife sanctuaries | ||
| Fairs | ||
