Kolkata has a sizeable Muslim population and there are mosques big and small strewn all over the Kolkata landscape. But, the largest and also the most beautiful mosque is the one at Chitpur Road - The Nakhoda Mosque.

This magnificent dome shaped mosque made of red sandstone has two minarets and once you step inside, you will be mesmerized by the artistic ornamental designs that adorn its walls. The mosque is one of the finest specimen of the Indo-Saracenic school of architecture. This magnificent Mosque was designed on the pattern of Mughal emperor Akbar's tomb at Sikandra near Agra.

Chitpur road, where the mosque is located, happens to be one of North Kolkata's most fascinating stretch replete with milling crowds, the shadowy alleyways and the chaotic fruit market. The quintessential Kolkata tramcar too can be seen happily chugging away on this route. This part of Kolkata still lives in the past but the younger generation seem to embrace new age concepts like being IT savvy, wearing denims and flaunting the latest version of the Nokia mobile headset.

The contrast between tradition and modernity is clearly visible on the periphery of the Nakhoda Mosque. In a street corner, you will come across men toiling tirelessly dyeing clothes and on the other side of the divide you will find a swanky cyber café which caters to everything from VOIP to blue tooth technology.

The giant Nakhoda mosque was built way back in 1926 and since then, it has been the principal place of worship for the Muslims of Kolkata. As you enter the mosque through the arched gateway, which is intricately decorated with sparkling red sandstone, you realize that you are in a very fortunate place. The Indo-Saracenic architectural brilliance radiates everywhere, both inside and outside this magnificent mosque.

In fact, the Indo- Saracenic School of architecture was developed further by the erstwhile British East India Company. Prior to British rule, the Mughals were the most dominant ruling class in India and in course of their supremacy in India, the Mughals left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of India. However, once India came under British rule, they felt the need for a new style of architecture that would be a fine blend of European, Hindu and Islamic styles. This is how the Indo-Saracenic school of architecture was developed. This new school of architecture was primarily developed with a view to provide the British public buildings with a native touch.

The Nakhoda Mosque is today an endangered heritage site and over the past few years there has been a flurry of activity topreserve and restore the splendor of this magnificent mosque. It would be apt to mention that the Geneva based Aga Khan Trust for Culture has evinced its willingness to preserve and restore this historical mosque which is one-of-its-kind building, wherein the Hindu, Mughal, colonial and Greek architectural patterns have harmoniously blended.

The mosque comes alive especially during holy Muslim festivals like Id and Ramzan. The entire mosque is decorated with neon lights and flowers and the devout Muslims from all over Kolkata congregate at the mosque premises to offer prayers, ten thousand of them, in a perfectly synchronized display of faith.