Nakhoda Mosque

Nakhoda Mosque KolkataNorth of BBD Bagh, this is Kolkata's principal Muslim place worship. Built in 1926, the huge Nakhoda Mosque is said to accommodate 10,000 people and was modelled on Akbar's tomb at Sikandra near Agra.  The red sandstone mosque has two 46m minarets and a brightly painted onion-shaped dome. Outside the mosque, every day except Sunday, you can buy attar, which is perfume made from essential oils and flower fragrances.

 Nakhoda Mosque is located in Jacquaria Street, near the junction of Chitpore Road and Mahatma Gandhi Road in Kolkata, West Bengal.

 Nakhoda Mosque of Kolkata in the beginning was a small mosque. It was as late in 1926, when resident of Kutch, Abdar Rahim Osman built the present structure. Nakhoda Mosque of Kolkata is the biggest of its kind in Kolkata. It was constructed following the style of Akbar's tomb at Sikandra- which is a piece of Indo-Saracenic architecture.

 The total amount of rupees that was spent for the building the Kolkata Nakhoda Mosque was around Rs 1.5 millions. More than 10,000 men can perform the 'Namaaz' in the prayer hall of the Nakhoda Mosque of Kolkata . In the center of the premise is a dome and two minarets.

 The gateway of the mosque resembles the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri. For its construction granite stones were brought from Tolepur. Inside the Nakhoda Mosque there is a fabulous exhibition of ornaments and art.

 The Nakhoda Mosque of Kolkata during festival time is decorated marvelously. One should visit the mosque during the Muslim festivals or 'parabs'. In Muharram time, the whole area glitters and looks like a fair. The mosque is administered by a board of trustees now.

 Whenever you go to Nakhoda Mosque in Kolkata you must visit Sinduraipatty where there is Hafiz Jalaluddin Mosque. Karbala Masjid at Manicktola, built by the Nawabs of Murshidabad should not be missed. The 13 mosques constructed by the descendants of Tipu Sultan should also be noted. Out of these, the mosque known as Tipu Sultan Mosque at Dharmatalla Street, made by prince Gulam Mohammad is very popular.

 You can visit Nakhoda Mosque of Kolkata between 6.00 am to 8.00 pm. There is no entry fee required.