Begum Shahi Mosque

The mosque was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the honour of his mother, Begum Mariam -uz-Zamani, who was also incorrectly known as 'Maharani Jodha Bai'. The mosque likely served as the main mosque for members that attended the Mughal court.[1]

The mosque is located inside the old Masti Gate in the Walled City of Lahore.

Construction began in 1611 and lasted until 1614.[3] Some part of the Mosque was turned into Shaheed Ganj Bhai Mani Singh where as some part of it was temporarily turned into a gunpowder factory by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, for which it was then known as Barudkhana Wali Masjid ("Gunpowder Mosque").[5][3] In 1850 the mosque was returned to the Muslims of Lahore who were able to contribute to its renovation.[2]

The mosque's walls feature elaborate frescoes.

The dome of the mosque is also ornately embellished with Mughal era frescoes.

The mosque features a series of low domes.

The Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum represents a transitional phase of architecture, and features both Mughal influences, and influences from the earlier Pashtun Lodi Dynasty which had previously ruled the region.[1] Short domes and wide arches represent the earlier Lodi style, while the mosque's balconies, side rooms, and embellishment are in the Mughal style.[2]

The mosque features Lahore's first five-bay prayer chamber that would later be typical of all later Mughal mosques such as the Wazir Khan Mosque and Badshahi Mosque. The mosque's central bay is in the style of the Persian Char Taq, and is flanked by one smaller dome on either side.[7] The mosque originally had 3 gateways, of which 2 survive.[1]

Interior embellishment

The mosque features highly intricate frescoes.

The interior of the mosque features extensive Mughal fresco work, and would be the model for the elaborate and extensive frescoes at the Wazir Khan Mosque a few decades later.[1] Most frescoes are floral in design, and calligraphy on the walls includes non-Quranic text, and is the first mosque in Lahore to feature this practice.[3]

Inscriptions

The mosque features inscriptions of Quranic, and non-Quranic origin.[3] An inscription over the northern gateway features a Persian inscription which reads:[2]

God be thanked through whose grace, under the auspices of His Majesty, this building was completed. The founder of the edifice, the place of salvation, is the Queen Mariyam Zamani. For the completion of this edifice, which resembles paradise, I was thinking about when at last I found it in the words "What a fine mosque!"

While the inscription over the eastern gateway reads:[2]

May the Conqueror of the world, King Nur-ud-Din Muhammad, shine in the world like the sun and moon, oh God!

Over an archway on the northern end of the mosque is a final inscription which reads:[2]

So said the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, "The faithful in a mosque are as fish in water!"

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Views of the mosque have been obstructed by illegally built shops which have encroached upon the mosque. In July 2016, the Walled City of Lahore Authority announced that the shops would be removed, and the mosque conserved and restored.[6]

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  Entry sign
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  Inside Maryam Zamani
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  The mosque has richly embellished muqarnas.
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  The central fountain and ablution area are covered by a new-build canopy.
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