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Location: At the western end of the famous street of old Delhi, Chandni Chowk
Time to visit: Open on all days
Preferred Timings: Sunrise to sunset
Admission Fee: Free and open to all.
Photography charges: nil
How to Reach: Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this sacred monument, which is located at the terminal point of Chandni Chowk, the heart of the old Delhi, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis
Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Delhi Main
Functional Metro Station: Delhi Main
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing: 30 minutes
(All data as of October 2005)
Located at the western end of the oldest street of Delhi, Chandni Chowk, Fatehpuri Masjid was built in 1650 by Fatehpuri Begum, one of Shah Jahan's wives. The mosque is built with red sandstone on a large scale and is surmounted by a single dome. Flanked by towering minarets, the mosque has a traditional design with the prayer hall having seven-arched openings. Among the seven arches, the central arch is the highest. The mosque has single and double-storeyed apartments on the sides and some of its endowments were used as a school for poor students. The British auctioned some parts of the mosque after the 1857 war to a Hindu family. Later in 1877 it was restored to the Muslims at the Delhi Darbar when the British allowed the Muslims back in Old Delhi.
Though Fatehpuri Masjid was an important mosque in Old Delhi but architecturally the mosque is not a very fine example of Mughal architecture. The materials used in the mosque are of poor quality. The proportion of the mosque is also not as perfect as that of the Jama Masjid. If one notices, the dome especially is not in proportion to the building and the overall effect is also not very pleasing. However, different parts of the mosque individually are very beautiful.
Special Attraction/ Annual Event All Muslim festivals especially Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Zuha are celebrated with great enthusiasm and are the appropriate time to visit the mosque to experience the faith and love of the devotees
Nearby Tourist Attractions Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Salimgarh Fort, Kashmeri Gate, St James Church, Dara Shikoh Library, Lothian Cemetery, and Rajghat
Nearby Places to Eat Karim Hotel, Ghantewala sweet shop, food stalls near Jama Masjid, Paranthewali Gali, Natraj hotel, Chor Bizarre of Broadway Hotel, Daryaganj's Flora, Peshwari, Moti Mahal Restaurant, Worker's canteen of Inter-State Bus terminal and many roadside food stalls are there for refreshment.
Nearby Shopping Venues Chandni Chowk (curios, souvenirs, silver and glass bead jewelry), Nai Sarak (books), Chor bazaar (electronic goods), Daryaganj book market (on Sunday) and Chatta Chowk in Red Fort (traditional and contemporary jewelry and handicrafts)
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