The Mecca Masjid (also Makkah Masjid) is one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, and one of India’s largest masajids. The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long; large enough to accommodate 10,000 worshipers at a time.
Mecca Masjid in 1880s. Photo by Deen Dayal
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam. They were used in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name.
Mecca Masjid formed the centerpiece around which the city of Hyderabad was planned by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah.
Now, on August 16, 2017 a restoration campaign for this a historic monument was launched, and work began just a month later.
Street view of Mecca Masjid in 2012 by Mkamath1976 via Wikipedia.
“The work order was handed over to Laxmi Hericon on August 16. Senior executives from the company and department officials visited the mosque on the same day. A lot of homework was done in preparing sketches, maps and drawings. Our team paid several visits to understand the structure in detail,” said NR Visalatchy, director of the city’s Department of Archaeology and Museums.
Laxmi Hericon is a private company which specializes in the restoration of heritage structures.
Featured image by anonymous via Expedia.