|
JAUNPUR |
|
|
|
This bustling town 58km north-west of Varanasi sees few travellers but is of interest to architectural historians for its mosques, which are built in a unique style that is part Islamic and part Hindu and Jain. Founded by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1360 on an ancient site, Jaunpur became the capital of the independent Muslim Sharqui kingdom. The most impressive mosques were constructed between 1394 and 1478. They were built on ruins of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples and shrines, and are notable for their odd mixture of architectural styles, their two storey arcades and large gateways, and their unusual minarets. Jaunpur was sacked by Sikandar Lodi, who left only the mosques undamaged. The modest but well-maintained Jaunpur Fort, built by Feroz Shah in 1360, overlooks the Gomti River. Continue 500m north of here and you come to the Atala Masjid, built in 1408 on the site of a Hindu temple dedicated to Atala Devi. Another 500m north-west is the largest and most impressive of the mosques, the Jama Masjid, built between 1438 and 1478. Other places to see include the Jhanjhri Masjid, the tombs of the Sharqul sultans, the Char Ungil Masjid and the Lal Darwaza Masjid. |
|
More Information of
Varanasi Hotels In Varanasi Chain Hotels in Varanasi Other Chain Hotels
In India |
