Taj-Ul-Masjid: India's Largest Mosque

Despite popular belief, the largest mosque in India is not the Jama Masjid of Delhi. It is, in fact, the Taj-ul-Masjid, in the central India town of Bhopal, which is the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh. With an interior area of about 430,000 square feet, the mosque has a capacity of 175,000 people.

An exterior view of the mosque across the lake

The meaning of Taj-ul-Masjid translates to ‘The Crown of Mosques,’ and the magnificent architecture reflects just that. The masjid was built between the years 1868 and 1901, started by Sultan Shah Jehan Begum of Bhopal. Not only is the mosque the largest in the country, but it also happens to be the second largest mosque in Asia. Made of red stone, the mosque is situated by the lake referred to as the Motia Talab.

The mosque has three domes and two minarets. The masjid is open on all days, but non-Muslims are not allowed inside on Fridays. A sign of determination of the female ruler, the mosque is also a symbol of devotion. The mosque holds remarkable similarity with the architecture of Jama Masjid of Delhi, including the decorations.
While the construction of the mosque began in the 1800s, it was stalled due to lack of funds. Construction started again in 1971, and through the efforts of Maulana Sayed Hashmat Ali Sahab of Bhopal and Allama Mohammad Imran Khan Nadwi Azhari, the mosque was completely built by 1985. During this stage of construction, the entrance, which is also the eastern gate, was renovated in a very grand manner.
Bhopal is well connected with Delhi and Bombay, and once in the city, reaching Taj-ul-Masjid is not much of a hassle. The location is prime, and the place is one of the important landmarks of the city.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.