Adhai Din Ka Johnpra Travel Map

Adhai-din ka Jhonpra is a mosque that is believed to have been built in two and a half days. Originally a Sanskrit college, the edifice was converted into a mosque in 1198 by Muhammad Ghori. The mosque has been enveloped by a seven-arched wall that is inscribed with verses from the Koran. An example of early Indo-Islamic architecture, the mosque was designed by Abu Bakr of Herat. Built from masonry taken from broken down Hindu and Jain temples, it comprises pillars which hold up the ceiling in the main chamber.Sultan Altamush in 1230 AD added a jali (screen) under a raised arch. People can enter the mosque from the gateway in the north. A number of small arches built of yellow limestone adorn the front façade. Flanked by six smaller arches of Arab origin, the main arch has many tiny rectangular panels. These serve as a lighting system, a feature found in ancient Arabian mosques.A main hall supported by numerous columns forms the interior of the edifice. To gain more height, the pillars have been placed over each other. The columns have large and bulbous bases that taper as they gain height.