Mughal’s Qanati Mosque, Near Rathore Mahal, Tarahati Kalinjar, Madhya Pradesh.
One day is never enough to get acquainted with all the historical buildings and remains related to Kalinjar Fort. Before the road leading to the fort, there are some ruins a little closer to the PWD road, and this mosque is also situated in these. This mosque was built during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in about 1114 AH i.e. 1702-03 AD. The architecture and construction style of this mosque is very similar to the Qanati Masjid situated on the banks of the Sanichari pond on the fort, that is why this mosque is named as the Mughal’s Qanati Masjid located in the Tarahati.
A green board has been installed on the main road to show the direction and distance, on which Banda is 60 km, Pahadi Kheda 21 km and direction arrows for Naraini, Masauni and Kanpur, it will be helpful to reach this monument.
Western wall is the Qibla wall and Main Mihrab is in the centre which is vaulted and has a pointed arch. Either side of this Mihrab one each similar pointed blind arches are constructed and plastered including niches. Northern and Southern walls are shorter than the Western wall as it’s a rectangular plan which has one each similar pointed blind arches and niches. Above the arches lintel and mouldings are constructed. Walls are raised uniformly up to the half of the small octagonal domed minarets which are constructed on all the four corners. The wall over Main Mihrab is raised to the same level of minarets.
This type of construction style was very economical and helped in the construction of the worship house in a short time. It is an open mosque with only three walls. Above the main arch is fixed a stone inscription with Bismillah in Persian which is easily readable and reads as follows:
Badaur Jenhaniyan Rauz Bana Masjid Ezz o Sharf
Garbajweed Kisi Zatar Bakhsh ba Ghamzi Shoodra Aagah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
بدور جهانیان روز بنا مسجد عز و شرف
گربجوید کسی زتار بخش به غمزی شو درا آگاه
After lockdown still ASI and tourists operations are not fully functional so I couldn’t comply with my passion.