Jama Masjid, Srinagar

The Jamia Masjid is a mosque in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir. The Jamia Masjid of Srinagar is at Nowhatta, in the middle of the old city. It was built by Sultan Sikander Shah in 1394 AD. Later, the son of Sultan Sikandar, Zain-ul-Abidin had the mosque extended. The measurement of the mosque is 381 feet by 384 feet. It has unique architecture, a courtyard, and 378 wooden Deodar pillars supporting a wooden ceiling with 346 pillars of 21 feet in height and 5 feet in girth, and 32 pillars 48 feet in height and 6 feet in girth. The masjid has a fountain also measurement of 33 feet by 34 feet which is also used for wuzu (ablution). Thousands of Muslims assemble at the mosque every Friday to offer their prayers. This Jamia Masjid of Kashmir, has seen a number of destructions till date. It got ruined three times in a fire and was reconstructed every time. During the region of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh, the Jamia Masjid of Srinagar was shut down and the namaz ("Islamic prayers") and azan ("Islamic call to prayer") were banned.