Lal Darwaza Masjid in Jaunpur
Jaunpur is best known for its mosques which were built during the reign of the Sharqi Dynasty.Lal Darwaza Masjid also called the Red Portal Mosque or the Ruby Gate Mosque came in existence in 1447, as a dedication to the saint Sayyid Ali Dawood Kutubbudin from Queen Rajye Bibi. You can reach the mosque easily by taking a cycle rickshaw from any part of the city.
Lal Darwaza Masjid Jaunpur History
Sultan Mahmood Sharqi's queen, Rajye Bibi belonged to the Sharqi Dynasty. The Mosque was built by the Queen in honour of the Saint, Sayyid Ali Dawood Kutubbudin, whose descendents still live there.The masjid was originally a private mosque of the queen, and hence stands adjacent to the palace built for the Queen, and so is smallest among the mosques found in Jaunpur.
Jamia Hussainia, the madrasa was built around the Mosque to provide schooling for Jaunpur's local Muslim population.
Lal Darwaza Masjid Jaunpur Architecture
The name Lal Darwaza comes from the fact that the entrance gate of the mosque was originally built in red colour. The colour was changed to toothpaste pink a few years ago.Structurally, the mosque is different from the typical mosques found. Owing to its smaller size, the mosque only has one central pylon.
Zenana – A separate chamber for women and girls which is a typical feature of all the mosques. In this mosque, the Zenana is placed at the center, which is in contrast to all the other mosques where the Zenana is found at the extremity.
Of the three gateways, the eastern and the main gateway are the larger ones and hence, more important.
Best time to visit: The mosque is open for the visitor all the 12 months, October to March being the most preferable time to visit the place.
Address: Lal Darwaza Masjid, Begumganj, Azamgarh Sarayrani, Jaunpur Road, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
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