About Delhi Jama Masjid
Jama Masjid Delhi, one of the oldest mosques in India, is located on Chawri Bazar Road in Old Delhi.
Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Jama Masjid is among the largest and most renowned mosques in the country. A prime example of Mughal architecture, its construction began in A.D. 1650 and was completed in A.D. 1656.
The masterpiece of Shah Jahan’s architectural legacy is the Taj Mahal in Agra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Jama Masjid in Delhi, one of India’s oldest and largest mosques, is located opposite the Red Fort, where the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag on Independence Day, the 15th of August, each year.
The Jama Masjid in Delhi can accommodate up to 25,000 people for prayers at a time. It is one of India’s oldest and most significant mosques and houses a rare copy of the Quran written on deerskin. Jama Masjid is considered one of the most influential mosques for Muslims in India.
Mughal Hierarchy
Emperor Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal ruler, succeeding Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and Jahangir. He reigned from A.D. 1628 to 1658 and died in A.D. 1666. His son Aurangzeb imprisoned him and ascended the throne in 1658 as the sixth Mughal emperor.
How to reach Jama Mosque in Delhi
Chawri Bazar, located 30 meters below ground level, is the deepest underground station on the Delhi Metro network. Situated on the Yellow Line, which runs from HUDA City Centre in Gurugram to Jahangirpuri, it is the nearest metro station to Jama Masjid in Delhi. The station has 18 escalators to access its depth.
Taking the metro or a city bus is the most convenient way to reach Jama Masjid in Delhi, as Old Delhi is extremely crowded and finding parking for private vehicles—even two-wheelers—is nearly impossible. Chawri Bazar Metro Station is close to both the New Delhi Railway Station (the next stop on the Yellow Line) and the Old Delhi Railway Station.
For outstation travelers, New Delhi Railway Station is the nearest major railhead to the mosque in Old Delhi. From there, you can board the Yellow Line of the Delhi Metro at the New Delhi underground station. The Airport Express Line (Orange Line) connects the New Delhi Metro Station to Indira Gandhi International Airport. This line was initially operated by a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd., and since 1 July 2013, it has been operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).