Travel tips: Why is this beautiful mosque of India built in Moroccan style lying deserted? Kalam sahab had once offered namaz here

When we talk about the historical mosques of India, the images of Delhi's Jama Masjid and Bhopal's Taj ul Masjid come to mind, but there is a mosque in Punjab whose beauty and architecture will make you feel that this building is from some other country. Let us introduce you to this place of worship and tell you why so few worshippers are seen in this mosque?

Though Kapurthala of Punjab is famous for the railway coach factory, there is a mosque here which is unique in itself. It is known as the 'Moorish Mosque'. Its architecture resembles the Grand Mosque of Marrakesh of Morocco.

This magnificent mosque was built by the last ruler of Kapurthala, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, who believed in secularism. At that time, 60 percent of their population was Muslim.

This mosque was designed by French architect Monsieur M. Manteaux, whose construction began in the year 1926 and then it was completed in 1930. At that time, it cost Rs 4 lakh to build it. The mosque was inaugurated by Nawab Sadiq Mohammad Khan-5, who was the Nawab of Bhawalpur.

However, at present, the Moorish mosque looks deserted because most of the Muslims had gone across the border due to the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. According to the 2011 census, the population of Muslims in Kapurthala has remained only 1.26 percent. This mosque clearly expresses the pain of the partition of India.

This mosque is a monument protected by the Punjab State Department of Archaeology, which is currently being maintained by Shahi Imam Hafiz Shaukat Ali. He has been leading the prayers here since 1994.

Imam Hafiz Shaukat Ali Sahib told Zee News that on 23 March 2003, the then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam had visited here, he offered Zuhr Namaz in the Moorish mosque.

Recalling that time, Imam Hafiz Shaukat Ali Sahib told that when journalists asked Kalam Sahib how did you like this mosque, the former President had replied that it is the house of Allah, so it will feel good.

Kapurthala is connected by road through National Highway 703A and NH 703AA. Kapurthala and Jalandhar are the nearest railway stations here. Apart from this, the nearest airport is in Amritsar which is about 80 kilometers away. You will easily find budget hotels here.

(PC: Lifeberrys)