|
Location: Behind South Extension Part II, in the village named Masjid Moth. The mosque can be reached by taking either Khel Gaon Marg through the Uday Park area or Aurobindo Marg alongside Yusuf-Sarai.
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 the monument located in South Delhi, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or take the metro rail.
Nearest Railway Station: Nizamuddin Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat
Functional Metro Station: Central Secretariat
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing: about 30 minutes
(All data as of October 2005)
Built by Miyan Bhuwa, a minister during the reign of Sikandar Lodi (1517-26) in the early 16th century, Moth-ki-Masjid is located behind one of the modern localities of the capital, South Extension Part II. Situated in the village named Masjid Moth, the mosque can be reached either by taking the Khel Gaon Marg through the Uday Park area or the Aurobindo Marg alongside Yusuf-Sarai.
Raised on a platform, the mosque has an impressive red sandstone gateway on the eastern side. This three-domed mosque is considered an important milestone in the growth of Mughal architecture, especially in regard to the ornamentation of mosques, because of its special features. The prayer chamber of the mosque has five arched openings, all of which are beautifully ornamented, including the mihrab, which has Quranic inscriptions in Naskh characters. Special treatment has been done to the central arch built of red sandstone by decorating it with marble. There are double storeyed towers with arched openings at the rear ends of the roof and domed octagonal chhatris on the corresponding walls.
The mosque has the rather unusual name of Moth-ki-Masjid, for according to legend, Miyan Bhuwa built this mosque from the revenue earned by producing a large crop from just a single grain of moth, a kind of lentil. his grain was presented to him by Sikandar Lodi himself. The minister produced many more seeds from that one seed and over a period of time raised a large enough crop to construct this mosque with its revenue.
Nearby Tourist Attractions: Hauz Khas, Siri Fort, Kalkaji Temple, Lotus Temple, Nizamuddin's Shrine and Chirag Dehlvi's Dargah
Nearby Places to Eat: Many good eating joints are there in Ansal Plaza shopping mall on Khel Gaon Marg as well as in South Extension Part I & II modern markets, McDonald's and sophisticated eating joints in Greater Kailash-1's market, Nirula's, Nescafe, Barista and many popular restaurants in PVR Saket Complex and good restaurants in Panchsheel and Hauz Khas Market.
Nearby Shopping Venues: Ansal Plaza, one of the best malls of Delhi on Khel Gaon Marg, South Extension Part I & II modern markets, Panchsheel Market, Nehru Place (electronic items), Kalkaji Market and C R Park Market (residential markets), Greater Kailash-1 Market (all types of consumer goods, especially garments)
| 
