2008 November 06

Archive for November 6, 2008

Adhi - Din - Ka Jhonpra, Ajmer Rajasthan

Adhi Din Ka Jonpra , Ajmer, Rajasthan

Location and Architecture

At the foot of the Taragarh hill stands the relic of the past and interesting historical magnificent building Jamia (Jamia in Arabic Connotes a University). Al - Tamish popularly known as Adhai- din - ka Jhonpra.

This is a masterpiece of Indo Islamic architecture located very close to the dargah. It was orginally a Sanskrit college, built within a temple. As Legend goes.

This structure has this unique name because it took only two and a half days (Adhai Din) to complete its construction.

In 1193 A.D. when Mohhamed Ghauri conquered Ajmer he turned the building into a mosque by adding a wall with seven arches, in front of the pillared hall in just two-and-a-half days (adhai-din) and hence the name.

Whats Unique About Adhai - din - ka - Jhonpra

The mosque has extensive and massive stony structure replete with extermly fine and intricate workmanship on stone. Some believe that only the smaller marble arch in the mosque may have been constructed in 2-1/2 days but the whole massive structure, with its elaborate Arabic tracings and delicate engraving detail, is definitely seems to be a work of many years sustained labor.

Three pillars have been placed on one top of the other to give the impression of height of which no two pillars are alike. The pillared hall is 61 mtrs long and its 124 columns support the 10 shallow domes. An arcade of seven arches can be seen, which is finely engraved with Kufi and Jughra inscriptions from the holy Koran. The district pillars and arched screen with its ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural masterpiece.

Nevertheless you could yourself marvel at the stunning piece of architure , read the inscribed Koranic verses and amaze at how this poetry in stone could be accomplished in two and a half days.

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