Masjid Moth - New Delhi

Amazing piece of historical importance... But it is not well maintained now and also praying is not allowed... I'll be glad if praying 5 times a day will be possible there in near future and I'll try my best for the same... It will be worth to secure such a beautiful place and renovate a little so that it will be as beautiful as ever before...

A wonderful Architect and very peaceful place. Very few visitors visit here because the location is not prominent and located in between urban society.

Nice historical monument. Having nearby shops for daily use materials, which are easily accessible for all hostel residents. Chemist shops are also available. Several mini restaurants are also there...

Unused mosque, but good piece of architecture of that time. Nil maintenance.

Simple historical place but crowded by the human settlements near it.

Moth Ki Masjid is a mosque located in Delhi, and was built in 1505 by Wazir Miya Bhoiya, Prime Ministerduring the reign of Sikander Lodi (1517–26) of the Lodi dynasty. It was a new type of mosque developed by the Lodis in the fourth city of the medieval Delhi of the Delhi Sultanate.[1][2][3]The name of the mosque literally translated into English language means ‘Lentil Mosque’ and this name tag ‘Lentil’ has an interesting legend. This mosque was considered a beautiful Dome (Gumbad) structure of the period. The mosque is now completely enclosed within the modern locality of South ExtensionPart II, Uday Park and Masjid Moth comprising residential and commercial establishments in the urban setting of South Delhi. It is famously narrated that when SultanSikandar Lodi was on a visit to a mosque in the vicinity of the present location of the Moth Ki Masjid for prayer, he knelt over a grain of moth (a kind of lentil), which had been dropped by a bird. His loyal Prime Minister Wazir Miya Bhoiya, who had accompanied the King, saw the lentil seed and observed that A seed so honoured by His majesty must not be thrown away. It must be used in the service of God. So he took the moth seed and planted it in his garden for further growth. Over the years, the process of repeated planting and replanting of the moth seeds was carried out. In this process, the seeds multiplied several times. The Wazir finally sold the rich harvest and earned good money. With the proceeds of the sale he built the mosque after seeking permission from the Sultan to construct the Mosque.[1] Impressed by the ingenuity of his minister, Sikandar Lodi laid the foundation for building the mosque.[5] Another version of the legend is that Sikandar Lodhi on one of his visits to the area played a prank on his Prime Minister by giving him a gift of a grain of moth (lentil). The Wazir accepted the gift in good grace and instead of throwing it away planted it in his garden. Over the years repeated plantation resulted in a rich harvest that provided a surplus income to the Wazir. Thereafter, the wazir, with the revenue earned from the lentil grains, decided to build a mosque. On completion, he invited the Sultan to visit the mosque and narrated the sequence of events which led to the building of the mosque. Impressed by this unique achievement, the Lodi named the mosque as "Moth Ki Masjid" or the Mosque from the Moth Lentil. Raised on a high plinth, the mosque has a square layout. It is approached from the eastern side street of village Moti Masjid, through an exquisitely designed gate made of red, blue, black and white coloured sandstones arranged in a neat design (see picture). In particular, the arch of the gateway has a Hindu arch within a Muslim arch.[1][7] Up the gateway steps, the entry is into a large courtyard of 38.6 m (126.6 ft) width surrounded by walls. Within the courtyard, on the western side is the main shrine or the mosque with the rectangular prayer hall porch, which has a façade of five arched openings. The corners of the rectangular prayer hall are adorned with double storied towers. The towers have arched openings at the rear end of the roof with domed octagonal chhatris(the Cenotophs) on the related walls. The west side wall is provided with tapering turrets that depict a sophisticated outline (pictured). The Cenotophs were the first of its kind to be built in India and since then these have been replicated in several other monuments, even in the Deccan. There are three impressive domes inside the prayer hall with the Mihrablocated on the west qibla wall of the central dome, which is the largest of the three domes. The Mihrab depicts Quranic inscriptions in flora Nakashi in Iranian design. Turrets project out of the qibla. The central dome is supported on squinches. The domes on both flanks are borne on muqarnas pendentives. Carved panels of red sandstone and white marble and plaster, as well as glazed tiles embellish the walls of the mosque. The overall effect of the Mosque has been best described as:

? This mosque is situated near South Extension and can be reached by metro, nearest metro station is Moolchand. The architecture of this mosque is impressive but lack of care has ruined it. This place is an excellent structure which should have been well preserved but its in total neglect. Construction all around the beautiful structure ruins the beauty of this place. A high level of restoration is required to help this place. do visit this place if you want to try something explored.

Situated in South Extension Part 2...This monument has been declared to be of National Importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological sites and remains,Act 1958(24 of 1958). This monument is called Moth ki Masjid or Masjid Moth and area around is Masjid Moth village. Overall this is a good monument to visit but there is NO maintenance at all... Nearest metro station is green park.