Atala Masjid, Jaunpur - Uttar Pradesh

Atala Masjid is a 15^th century mosque in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaunpur. The mosque delivers the evidences of the times in which it was built. The Atala Masjid is a helpful specimen of mosques, not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in India.

The main feature of Atala Masjid is that in spite of being a mosque and built by the Muslims rulers, the Masjid shows a lot of determinants of Hindu architecture. In fact, there is a clear likeness of Hindu style of architecture, in the entire Masjid. The reason for such similarity is due to the fact that the Atala Masjid is located on the site of a temple of Atala Devi. Hence the Atala Masjid, Jaunpur also gets its name from this Hindu Temple. On the other hand, the Begampur Masjid in Delhi is also believed to have influenced the construction a great deal. The presence of inclined walls, niches, the form and structure of beams and pillars, matches the mosques, tombs and other buildings that were built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq and Sultan Muhammad Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.

The central portico of Atala Masjid in Jaunpur, India has a impressive arch. Inside, there is a massive hall, which is the main prayer room. The three domes of the Atala Masjid differ in size. The 'mihrab' which is the niche in the wall of the mosque indicates the direction of Mecca, the decorations of the prayer room as well as the two-tiered corridors are the other features of Jaunpur Atala Masjid, which are noteworthy. Some distinct features of the mosque are square-shaped mosque with robust appearanc which is the influence of circular tapering turrets of Tughlaqs resolved into rectangular shape. On the either side of Maqsura pylon are two identical mini-pylons and 3 separate gateways are also installed in northern, eastern and southern liwan.