Humayun Mosque: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Mosque in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}{{Coord|27.182497|78.039401|display=title}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{about|the mosque named in honour of Humayun|his tomb, located in Delhi|Humayun's Tomb}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name                  = Humayun Mosque
| image                =
| image_upright        = 1.4
| alt                  =
| caption              = The mosque in [YYYY]
| map_type              = India Uttar Pradesh
| map_size              = 250px
| map_alt              =
| map_relief            = yes
| map_caption          = Location of the former mosque in [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| coordinates          = {{Coord|27.182497|78.039401|type:landmark_region:IN-UP|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| religious_affiliation = [[Islam]] {{small|(former)}}
| locale                =
| location              = Kachhpura, [[Agra]], [[Fatehabad, Uttar Pradesh|Fatehabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| country              = [[India]]
| deity                =
| rite                  =
| sect                  =
| tradition            =
| festival              = <!-- or | festivals = -->
| cercle                =
| sector                =
| administration        = [[Archaeological Survey of India]]
| consecration_year    =
| organisational_status = [[Mosque]] {{small|(former)}}<!-- or | organizational_status = -->
| functional_status    = '''Abandoned'''<br/>{{small|(partial ruinous state)}}
| heritage_designation  =
| ownership            =
| governing_body        =
| leadership            =
| bhattaraka            =
| patron                =
| religious_features_label =
| religious_features    =
| architect            =
| architecture_type    = {{nowrap|[[Mosque architecture]]}}
| architecture_style    = [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]]
| founded_by            = [[Humayun]]
| creator              =
| funded_by            = Shaikh Zain of Khaf
| general_contractor    =
| established          =
| groundbreaking        =
| year_completed        = {{AH|937|link=yes}}
| construction_cost    =
| date_demolished      = <!-- or | date_destroyed = -->
| facade_direction      =
| capacity              =
| length                =
| width                =
| width_nave            =
| interior_area        =
| height_max            =
| dome_quantity        = Three {{small|(maybe more)}}
| dome_height_outer    =
| dome_height_inner    =
| dome_dia_outer        =
| dome_dia_inner        =
| minaret_quantity      =
| minaret_height        =
| spire_quantity        =
| spire_height          =
| site_area            =
| temple_quantity      =
| monument_quantity    =
| shrine_quantity      =
| inscriptions          = Two
| materials            = Brick; [[limestone]]; [[stucco]]; glazed tiles
| elevation_m          = <!-- or | elevation_ft = -->
| elevation_footnotes  =
| nrhp                  =
| designated            =
| added                =
| refnum                =
| footnotes            =
| website              =
| module = {{Infobox historic site
| embed = yes
| designation2 = MANI | designation2_offname  = Humayun Masjid | designation2_type = | designation2_criteria = | designation2_date = | delisted2_date = | designation1_partof = | designation2_number = N-UP-A52 | designation2_free1name = | designation2_free1value = | designation2_free2name = | designation2_free2value = | designation2_free3name = | designation2_free3value =
| embedded = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=250|frame-align=center|zoom=13|type=point|marker=landmark|stroke-width=2|plain=yes|frame-latitude=27.182497|frame-longitude=78.039401|text=}} Location of the former mosque in [[Agra]]
}}
}}


'''Humayun Mosque''' is situated in the village of Kachhpura in [[Agra]] on the left bank of [[River Yamuna]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Alfieri|first=Bianca Maria|title=Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent|publisher=Lawrence King Publishing|year=2000|isbn=9781856691895|pages=188}}</ref>  
The '''Humayun Mosque''', also known as the '''Kachpura Masjid''' and as the '''Humayun Masjid''', is a former [[mosque]], in a partial ruinous state, located in the village of Kachhpura in [[Agra]], [[Fatehabad, Uttar Pradesh|Fatehabad]], in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India on the left bank of [[River Yamuna]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Alfieri |first=Bianca Maria |title=Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent |publisher=Lawrence King Publishing |year=2000 |isbn=9781856691895 |page=188}}</ref>
 
The former mosque is a [[Monuments of National Importance (India)|Monument of National Importance]], administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttarpradesh_agra.asp |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Agra |date= |publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] |access-date=2016-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721180402/http://www.asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttarpradesh_agra.asp |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Though this mosque has not been mentioned in texts related to Mughal period, it is the only monument in Agra that can undoubtedly be attributed to the reign of Humayun. According to the inscriptions on this monument, the mosque was constructed in 1530, when Humayun ascended the throne.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Asher|first=Catherine B.|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521267281|title=Architecture of Mughal India|date=1992-09-24|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-26728-1|pages=34}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
Though the former mosque was not been mentioned in texts related to the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal era]], it is the only monument in Agra that can undoubtedly be attributed to the reign of [[Humayun]]. According to one inscription on the mosque, the mosque was constructed in {{AH|937|link=yes}},{{efn|One source claims that the mosque was built in 1565 CE by Haji Begum, a wife of [[Akbar]], in memory of her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg, and that the mosque was named after Akbar's father, Humayun.<ref name=agra/>}} when Humayun ascended the throne.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Asher |first=Catherine B. |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521267281 |title=Architecture of Mughal India |date=1992-09-24 |publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-26728-1 |page=34}}</ref> According to another inscription, in ''[[Nastaliq]]'' characters,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://connectingheritage.com/site/site-detail/2508 |title=Humayun Masjid |work=Connecting Heritage |date=2025 |access-date=13 March 2025 }}</ref> it named Shaikh Zain of Khaf, a scholar and a friend of [[Babur]], as the person who commissioned construction of the mosque.<ref name=archnet>{{cite web |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3997 |title=Kachpura Masjid |work=ArchNet |date=n.d. |access-date=13 March 2025 }}</ref>
 
It is claimed that the mosque was built on the site of a former [[Jain temple]]; and that the former mosque was designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a famous Mughal architect.<ref name=agra/>{{reliable source|date=March 2025}}


==Architecture==
==Architecture==
The facade of the mosque bears five arches, the central of which is a high [[iwan]]. A dome tops the central nave, and is supported on kite-shaped pendentives and net squinches. There are double-aisled wings on either side of the central nave. The building is made of brick and lime, and covered with stucco work.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
The [[façade]] of the former mosque bears five arches, the central of which is a high [[iwan]]. A dome tops the central nave, and is supported on kite-shaped pendentives and net squinches. There are double-aisled wings on either side of the central nave. The smaller domes of the side wings had similar supports. The building is made of brick and [[limestone]],{{efn|One source claims it was built of [[red sandstone]].<ref name=agra>{{cite web |url=https://agratourism.in/humayun-mosque-agra |title=Humayun Mosque, Agra |work=Agra Tourism |date= |access-date=13 March 2025 }}</ref>}} and covered with [[stucco]] work.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> The former mosque is in ruins, with only the main prayer hall intact. The southern wing has collapsed entirely making it difficult to determine how many [[Bay (architecture)|bays]] originally composed the double-aisled north and south wings. It is thought that the side wings were once covered with eight [[cupola]]s. Influenced by [[Timurid dynasty|Timurid]] architecture, the arch of the central bay is twice the width of the two arches flanking it.<ref name=archnet/>  


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Moti Masjid, Agra]]
{{stack|{{portal|Islam|India}}}}
* [[Gyarah Sidi]]
* [[Islam in India]]
* [[Mehtab Bagh]]
* [[List of mosques in India]]
* [[Jama Masjid, Agra]]
* [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Agra district]]
** [[Gyarah Sidhi]]
** [[Mehtab Bagh]]
 
== Notes ==
{{noteslist}}


==References==
==References==
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{{Mosques in India}}
{{Mosques in India}}


[[Category:16th-century mosques in India]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with domes in India]]
[[Category:Mosque ruins in India]]
[[Category:Mosques completed in the 1530s]]
[[Category:Mosques in Agra]]
[[Category:Mughal mosques]]
[[Category:Mughal mosques]]
[[Category:Mosques in Agra]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1530]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1530]]
 
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Agra]]
 
[[Category:Stone buildings in India]]
{{India-mosque-stub}}

Latest revision as of 05:24, 29 March 2026


This article is about the mosque named in honour of Humayun. For his tomb, located in Delhi, see Humayun's Tomb.
Humayun Mosque
Religion
AffiliationIslam (former)
Mosque (former)
StatusAbandoned
(partial ruinous state)
Location
LocationKachhpura, Agra, Fatehabad, Uttar Pradesh
CountryIndia
AdministrationArchaeological Survey of India
Coordinates27°10′57″N 78°02′22″E / 27.182497°N 78.039401°E / 27.182497; 78.039401
Architecture
TypeMosque architecture
StyleMughal
FounderHumayun
Funded byShaikh Zain of Khaf
CompletedTemplate:AH
Specifications
DomeThree (maybe more)
InscriptionsTwo
MaterialsBrick; limestone; stucco; glazed tiles
Template:Infobox designation list/entry
Location of the former mosque in Agra

The Humayun Mosque, also known as the Kachpura Masjid and as the Humayun Masjid, is a former mosque, in a partial ruinous state, located in the village of Kachhpura in Agra, Fatehabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India on the left bank of River Yamuna.[1]

The former mosque is a Monument of National Importance, administered by the Archaeological Survey of India.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Though the former mosque was not been mentioned in texts related to the Mughal era, it is the only monument in Agra that can undoubtedly be attributed to the reign of Humayun. According to one inscription on the mosque, the mosque was constructed in Template:AH,[lower-alpha 1] when Humayun ascended the throne.[1][4] According to another inscription, in Nastaliq characters,[5] it named Shaikh Zain of Khaf, a scholar and a friend of Babur, as the person who commissioned construction of the mosque.[6]

It is claimed that the mosque was built on the site of a former Jain temple; and that the former mosque was designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a famous Mughal architect.[3]Template:Reliable source

Architecture[edit | edit source]

The façade of the former mosque bears five arches, the central of which is a high iwan. A dome tops the central nave, and is supported on kite-shaped pendentives and net squinches. There are double-aisled wings on either side of the central nave. The smaller domes of the side wings had similar supports. The building is made of brick and limestone,[lower-alpha 2] and covered with stucco work.[1][4] The former mosque is in ruins, with only the main prayer hall intact. The southern wing has collapsed entirely making it difficult to determine how many bays originally composed the double-aisled north and south wings. It is thought that the side wings were once covered with eight cupolas. Influenced by Timurid architecture, the arch of the central bay is twice the width of the two arches flanking it.[6]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ One source claims that the mosque was built in 1565 CE by Haji Begum, a wife of Akbar, in memory of her father, Mirza Ghiyas Beg, and that the mosque was named after Akbar's father, Humayun.[3]
  2. ↑ One source claims it was built of red sandstone.[3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Alfieri, Bianca Maria (2000). Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Lawrence King Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 9781856691895.
  2. ↑ "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Agra". Archaeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Humayun Mosque, Agra". Agra Tourism. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Asher, Catherine B. (24 September 1992). Architecture of Mughal India. Cambridge University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-521-26728-1.
  5. ↑ "Humayun Masjid". Connecting Heritage. 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Kachpura Masjid". ArchNet. n.d. Retrieved 13 March 2025.

Template:Mosques in India

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