India is home to more than 300,000 active mosques, each a unique expression of local architecture & rich history. Mosques in India are not only sacred, they have interesting stories to tell. From Delhi to Hyderabad to Kerala, here are 21 magnificent Mosques in India A thread…

1/ Nagina Masjid, Uttar Pradesh Also known as the Jewel Mosque, it is located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site Agra Fort. Built in pure white marble and featuring simple architecture, this elegant mosque was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1631 and 1640 CE.

2/ Taj-ul-Masajid, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India’s largest mosque, with interiors spanning about 430,000 square feet, this 19th-century mosque features an iconic pink facade, topped by two 18-storey high towers with marble domes & is located by a lake known as Motia Talab.

3/ The Charminar, Hyderabad Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a mosque on its top floor for more than 425 years.

4/ Jamali-Kamali, Delhi Constructed in 1528-1529 CE, this mosque – built in red sandstone with marble embellishments is considered to be a precursor to the Mughal-style mosque architecture found across India. The mosque has an adjoining tomb of two people named Jamali & Kamali

5/ Hazratbal Masjid, Jammu and Kashmir This pristine, white marble mosque on the banks of the Dal lake in Srinagar is famous for containing a relic, the Moi-e-Muqaddas, believed by many to be a hair Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The mosque’s name is derived from the Urdu word hazrat.

6/ Cheraman Juma Masjid, Kerala Built in 629 CE in a traditional Keralan style, this mosque is thought to be the first in India. Built by the Arab Malik Deenar – who is considered to be a contemporary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) – it has been renovated many times over the years.

7/ Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad One of the oldest & largest mosques in the city. Commissioned in 1614, it was built by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah &completed in the year 1694. Together with Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar & Charminar, it forms the four heritage attractions in the city.

8/ Jama Masjid, Delhi One of the largest mosques in the country, it was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 & 1656 CE. With 3 great gates, 4 towers, 2 iconic minarets & a large courtyard that can accommodate more than 25,000 people, this is a most popular mosque

8.1/ Walk through Jama Masjid, Old Delhi Video credit khanaa_badosh

9/ Buland Darvaza entrance to The Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, Agra. Buland Darwaza was built in 1602 by Mughal emperor Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. It is the main entrance to the Jama Masjid & is the highest gateway in the world

10/ Hayat Bakshi Begum Masjid, Hyderabad It is named after Hayat Bakshi Begum wife of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah, and mother of Abdullah Qutb Shah. She acted as regent when Abdullah was enthroned in 1626. The Mosque was constructed in 1672.

11/ Jumma Masjid, Bangalore Built by Haji Abdul Quddus in the early 19th century, the Jumma Masjid in Bangalore is said to be one of the oldest mosques in India. It is a beautiful mosque and every year is lit up during the festival time of Eid and Ramadan

12/ Moti Masjid, Bhopal The Moti Masjid in Agra was built by Shah Jahan. It earned the epithet Pearl Mosque for it shined like a pearl. It is held that this mosque was constructed by Shah Jahan for his members of the royal court.

12.1/ A walk through Moti Masjid in Bhopal Video credit: Saira Hind

13/ The Jama Masjid, Ahmedabad One of the largest mosques in India built in the period of 1424 by Emperor Sultan Ahmed Shah. To the west of the mosque are the tombs of Ahmed Shah I, his son and his grandson followed by the graves of the queens of the king.

14/ The Shahi Jama Masjid, Madanjot Tepraha estate in Bahraich Built by Thaku Salar Bakhsh Asghar Ali and Thakur Muzaffar Ali. One of the most remarkable things about this mosque is that its domes are covered in glazed tilework.

15/ Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Ahmedabad Popularly known as Sidi Saiyyed Ni Jaali, it was built in 1573. It is among the last few mosques built under the Mughal reign. The carved jalis have become famous worldwide & known as the unofficial symbol of Ahmedabad.

16/ Bara Imambara, Lucknow Built by the then Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula, it is one of the most prominent structures of Lucknow. The shrine has two imposing gates that lead to the main hall, a labyrinth, a step well and the Asfi mosque.

17/Nakhoda Mosque, Kolkata In the Chitpur area in the Burrabazar business district it is one of the busiest Mosques of Kolkata dating back almost a century. A seating capacity of 10000 the domes & minarets have been constructed to keep with the Fatehpur Sikri architectural style

18/ Ashraful Masjid, Amroha, UP Built in 1825 by Haji Sheikh Ashraf Ali of Azeemabad, it was constructed adjacent to Dewankhana in the premises of the Mahal built by Meer Syed Mohammad Shafaat. The complex that the mosque is part of consisted of a mahal, Sarai & Dewaan khana

19/ Juma Masjid, Kerala A historic mosque which has stood on eight strong pillars for over a thousand years. It is believed that the mosque on the banks of the Meenachil river was built by the Thekumkoor King. It is renowned for its exquisite wood work

20/ Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, Ajmer, Rajasthan One of the oldest mosques in India, and the oldest surviving monument in Ajmer. Commissioned by Qutb-ud-Din-Aibak in 1192 CE and designed by Abu Bakr of Herat, the mosque is an example of early Indo-Islamic architecture.

21/ Jama Masjid of Tonk, Rajasthan One of the biggest mosques in the country, the Jama Masjid’s construction began in 1246 by Amir Ali Khan, the first Nawab of Tonk and it was completed in 1298 by his son, Nawab Wazirudhoula.

21.1/ Jama Masjid of Tonk, Rajasthan There are paintings with gold & ‘meenakari’ work on the walls of the mosque. The mosque has four doors & four minarets. It is constructed in the Mughal architectural style & is regarded as the one of the most grandiose mosques of the country.