| Toli Masjid | |
|---|---|
 The mosque in [YYYY] | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Golconda Road,Karwan,Hyderabad,Hyderabad District,Telangana |
  Location of the mosque inHyderabad | |
| Coordinates | 17°22′29″N78°26′20″E / 17.37461°N 78.43897°E /17.37461; 78.43897 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Qutb Shahi |
| Completed | 1082AH (1671/1672 CE) |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | Three |
| Minarets |
|
| Minaret height | 18 m (60 ft)(tall) |
TheToli Masjid, also known asDamri Masjid, is amosque inHyderabad, in theHyderabad district of the state ofTelangana, India. It was constructed during theQutb Shahi period and completed in 1082AH (1671/1672 CE).[1]
Built in the distinctiveQutb Shahi style, the mosque displays considerableHindu influences. Its chief feature is its extensive ornamentation, consisting oflatticed screens,chajjas,stucco work, and various other motifs.[2][3] It is located on the historically significantKarwan road, and was originally set in a garden.[4] The mosque is astate protected monument.[5]
The mosque was commissioned by Musa Khan during the reign ofAbdullah Qutb Shah, and completed in 1671 CE. Musa Khan was themahaldar (chamberlain) of Abdullah, as well as a minister and general. According to the historical recordGulzar-e-Asafiyah, when Musa Khan held the construction charge for theMecca Masjid, he was provided with a discount of onedamri per rupee from the building expenditure. He used this amount to construct the Toli Masjid, hence the name.[a]
The mosque is located atKarwan, on the road which connectsGolconda Fort toPurana Pul.[4] This road is historically significant as it connected the citadel of Golconda to the newly established city of Hyderabad.[6] It is listed as astate protected monument.[5] The lands endowed to the mosque have been encroached,[7][8] and the mosque is in a neglected condition.[9]
The Toli Masjid is an example of lateQutb Shahi architecture. Built in the typical Qutb Shahi style, its chief feature is its exuberant decoration, considered a culmination of the decorative tendencies seen in earlier Qutb Shahi mosques.[2]
The mosque displays considerableHindu influences in its style. These include the use of excessive ornamentation, as well as elements such as elephant-tusk brackets and pot-shaped bases for the twominarets. The niches in thepost and lintel style are similar to those in temples used to accommodate images. Additionally, the parapet wall is decorated with miniature minarets just as miniatureshikharas are seen in temples.[10]
The Toli Masjid is built on a raised platform with a high plinth, which forms thecourtyard of the mosque. This courtyard, about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, is accessible by flights of steps from the north, south, and east. Musa Khan's grave is situated near the south-eastern end of the courtyard.[11] The mosque building, 4 feet (1.2 m) higher, is located at the western end. The lower part of the building is constructed fromashlar masonry, while the upper part is built out of brick andlime, probably to carry cut-plaster decoration.Granite and blackbasalt are used for embellishment.[3][9]
The façade has five arched openings, the central arch being a bit wider and more ornate than the other four. Five-arched façades are common in Qutb Shahi mosques, with the number five symbolizing thePanjtan.[12] Decorative granite columns start at each arch and reach up to the roof. This decoration consists of basalt medallions on either side of the arch, andstucco ornamentation. This is followed byeaves in the form of achajja, which are supported by beams and brackets. Finally, a doubleparapet wall rises above the building, consisting of a series of arched windows, decorated withjali work. Miniature minarets rise above the parapet wall.[2][3][9]
The façade is flanked by two 18-metre-tall (60 ft) minarets. The pillars at the corners consist of pot-shaped bases, which support octagonal shafts upon which the minarets rise. The minarets have three sets of galleries, and the central gallery is provided with a balcony, decorated with foliate elements. Each minaret is topped by a dome andfinial. The ceiling above the inner hall is surmounted by three flattish domes.[1][2][6]
The mosque was originally set in a large garden, of which little trace remains. Astepwell is also located within the premises.[13]
The mosque is divided into two halls—the outer hall having five arched openings, and the inner having only three. On the western wall of the inner hall, theprayer niche is in the form of a semi-decagon.[10] APersian inscription in theNaskh script is engraved on the prayer niche.[14] The inscription, translated into English, reads:
For whom is the Kingdom today? For God, the One, the All-powerful.
Musa Khan built this mosque of his
Which was completed in the reign ofShah Abdullah.
As a chronogram of the mosque this was heard (from the Invisible Speaker):
"Built the mosque in the name of God." 1082AH (1671/1672 CE)
— translated byGhulam Yazdani[14]
Media related toToli Masjid at Wikimedia Commons
