Toli Masjid (1671 AD), also known as Damri Masjid, is a mosque in
Karwan
Karwan is one of the major suburb in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is a part of the old city of Hyderabad.
It is 10 km from the IT hubs like Gachibowli, HITECH City, etc. It had major importance in the trade which happened during the tim ...
,
Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the '' de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern In ...
. It is 2 km from the
Golconda
Fort (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, romanized: ''Gōlkōnḍa'') is a historic fortress and ruined city located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was originally called Mankal. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparu ...
fort on the way to
Charminar
The Charminar () is a mosque and monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana The Charminar's long history includes the existe ...
. Built by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar during the reign of
Abdullah Qutb Shah
Abdullah Qutb Shah (also transliterated in different ways) was the seventh ruler of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1626 to 1672.
Abdullah, son of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, was a polyglot, a ...
in (1082
AH).
This mosque is
INTACH
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is a non-profit charitable organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH a special consultative status with Unite ...
awarded and a declared
heritage site
A historic site or heritage site is an official location where pieces of political, military, cultural, or social history have been preserved due to their cultural heritage value. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have been re ...
by
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...
.
[INTACH]
/ref> On scale of architecture Toli Mosque ranks next after Mecca Masjid
Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid, is a congregational mosque in Hyderabad, India. It is one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 10,000 people. The mosque was built during the 17th century, and is a state-protected monument. It se ...
, Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the '' de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern In ...
.[''India: past & present'', 2003, , by Prakash Chander, Page-148]
History
Built by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar in 1671 AD during the rule of Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
Abdullah Qutub Shah
Abdullah Qutb Shah (also transliterated in different ways) was the seventh ruler of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1626 to 1672.
Abdullah, son of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, was a polyglot, a ...
, it is one of the finest examples of Qutub Shahi
The Qutb Shahi dynasty also called as Golconda Sultanate (Persian: ''Qutb Shāhiyān'' or ''Sultanat-e Golkonde'') was a Persianate Shia Islam dynasty of Turkoman origin that ruled the sultanate of Golkonda in southern India. After the coll ...
architecture. He used architect Mecca Masjid
Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid, is a congregational mosque in Hyderabad, India. It is one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 10,000 people. The mosque was built during the 17th century, and is a state-protected monument. It se ...
of Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
and royal architect of Sultan
Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
Abdullah Qutub Shah
Abdullah Qutb Shah (also transliterated in different ways) was the seventh ruler of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1626 to 1672.
Abdullah, son of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, was a polyglot, a ...
.
There is a chapter in the royal records called the "Gulzar-e-Asafia." It mentions that when the royal architect was building Mecca Masjid, he was given one damri/damdi (coin) out of every rupee spent on it. The sum of money thus collected was used by Musa Khan to construct the Toli Masjid. Hence, this masjid is also called Damri Masjid.
Architecture
The mosque is built on a raised platform with a high plinth, divided into two halls, the outer one having five-arched openings, among five outer arches the central arch is the largest and most decorated. The central arch is a bit wider and more ornate than the remaining four.
The inscription in the prayer hall reveals that Musa Khan (who played an important role in the accession of the last Qutb Shahi
The Qutb Shahi dynasty also called as Golconda Sultanate (Persian: ''Qutb Shāhiyān'' or ''Sultanat-e Golkonde'') was a Persianate Shia Islam dynasty of Turkoman origin that ruled the sultanate of Golkonda in southern India. After the coll ...
Sultan, Abul Hasan Qutb Shah
Abul Hasan Qutb Shah, also known as Abul Hasan Tana Shah was the eighth and last ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, sovereign of the Kingdom of Golconda in South India. He ruled from 1672 to 1686. The last Sultan of this Shia Islamic dynasty, Tan ...
to the throne of Golconda
Fort (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, romanized: ''Gōlkōnḍa'') is a historic fortress and ruined city located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was originally called Mankal. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparu ...
) built the mosque. The Musa Burj (bastion) of the Golconda
Fort (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, romanized: ''Gōlkōnḍa'') is a historic fortress and ruined city located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was originally called Mankal. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparu ...
fort is also his work.
Deterioration
According to ''The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...
'', the land around the Toli Masjid had been encroached by the local residents under political influence, and due to pollution and lack of maintenance the mosque minarets are losing its carved beauty.Indian Ecological Society
/ref>
Gallery
File:Architectural detail on Entrance arches of Toli Masjid.jpg, Architectural detail on Entrance arches of Toli Masjid
File:Architecture of Toli Masjid 1.jpg, Architecture of Toli Masjid 1
File:Entrance arches of Toli Masjid 5.jpg, Entrance arches of Toli Masjid 5
File:Jali wall and Minarets on the facade of Toli Masjid.jpg, Jali wall and Minarets on the facade of Toli Masjid
File:Jali Window on Toli Masjid.jpg, Jali Window on Toli Masjid
See also
*Golconda Fort
Fort (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, romanized: ''Gōlkōnḍa'') is a historic fortress and ruined city located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was originally called Mankal. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparud ...
* Spanish Mosque, Hyderabad
*Islamic Heritage of Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state of Telangana and ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It was established by Qutb Shahi sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD to expand their capital beyond the Golconda fort. The Charminar Masji ...
References
{{Hyderabad topics
Mosques in Hyderabad, India
Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India
Heritage structures in Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad State
1671 establishments in India
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1671
Qutb Shahi architecture