Ali Farhad Khan's Mosque

Ali Farhad Khan's Mosque
Ali Farhad Khan's Mosque
	The mosque, viewed from the east, in 2012
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque and dargah
Status	Active
Location
Location	Aland, Karnataka
Country	India
	Location of the mosque and dargah in Karnataka
Geographic coordinates	17°33′25″N76°33′32″E / 17.55690671143948°N 76.55878274478768°E
Architecture
Type	Mosque architecture
Style	Adil Shahi
Founder	Ali Farhad Khan
Completed	c. 16th century
Specifications
Minaret(s)	Two
Monument(s)	Two (Ali Farhad Khan and his wife)
Inscriptions	One (maybe more)
Materials	Stone

Last updated January 31, 2025

The Ali Farhad Khan's Mosque, also known as Kali Masjid, is a mosque and dargah, located in Aland, in the state of Karnataka, India. The mosque structure is a state protected monument.^[1]

Description

The mosque is built in the Adil Shahi style, during the reign of the Sultanate of Bijapur. It was commissioned by Ali Farhad Khan, a brother of the general Afzal Khan.

Exterior

The mosque stands atop a rectangular plinth that is 2.29 metres (7 ft 6 in) high. The plinth is 24.49 metres (80 ft 4 in) long and 16.92 metres (55 ft 6 in) wide. It is accessible through a portal in the middle of the northern side, reached by a flight of eleven steps. The mosque is located at the western end of a courtyard, paved with stone slabs. Opposite the mosque stands a large masonry well, as well as two raised platforms –a dargah –containing the tombs of Ali Farhad Khan and his wife.^[1]^[2]

The mosque is built out of stone masonry, and the façade has three arched entrances opening out into the eastern courtyard. Each arch has a span of 2.51 metres (8 ft 3 in), and there is a Persian inscription above the central arch. The inscription, written in the Naskh script, notes that Ali Farhad Khan built the mosque, but does not give the date of its construction. Above the arches, a chajja rests on carved brackets. Finally, a parapet runs across the length of the façade, interspersed with small turrets.^[2]

The façade is flanked by two identical octagonal minarets, each approximately 9.1 metres (30 ft) high and 3.7 metres (12 ft) in girth, resting on square pedestals. Four ornamental bands are placed at equal intervals on each minaret. Each minaret is topped with an orb, resting on a disc of carved lotus petals, upon which is a stone finial.^[2]

An arcade consisting of nineteen arches runs across each of the northern, southern, and western walls. Two turrets are situated on the corners of the rear wall.^[2]

Interior

The prayer hall is 9.37 metres (30 ft 9 in) long and 6.1 metres (20 ft) wide. The mihrab (prayer-niche) in the center of the western wall is carved out of black stone. It is flanked by two smaller niches, which have a black stone outline. The basmala is carved over the prayer-niche. The floor is paved with slabs of grey stone.^[2]

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References

1 2 Ansari, Jafar Khasim (20 February 2021). "The Indo-Islamic architecture of Aland". Deccan Herald . Retrieved 3 January 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 Yazdani, Ghulam (1936). Annual Report Of The Archaeological Department Of His Exalted Highness The Nizam's Dominions, 1343 F. (1933-34 A.C.). Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press. pp. 4–5.

External links

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[:0-1] 1 2 Ansari, Jafar Khasim (20 February 2021). "The Indo-Islamic architecture of Aland". Deccan Herald . Retrieved 3 January 2025.

[:1-2] 1 2 3 4 5 Yazdani, Ghulam (1936). Annual Report Of The Archaeological Department Of His Exalted Highness The Nizam's Dominions, 1343 F. (1933-34 A.C.). Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press. pp. 4–5.

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