Indo Islamic Heritage
The Akhund Mullah Shah Mosque is accessible from major parts of Srinagar. The nearest railway station is Srinagar Railway Station, located approximately 8 kilometers away. The nearest major bus stand is Lal Chowk Bus Stand, situated about 4 kilometers from the site and serving as a key urban transport hub. The nearest airport is Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar, which lies roughly 12 kilometers away, providing domestic air connectivity.
Akhund Mullah Shah Mosque, also known as Dara Shikoh Masjid, Mala Shah Masjid, or Akhoon Mulla Masjid, is a historically significant 17th-century Mughal-era mosque located along Ziyarat Path, Botaraj Colony, near Hari Parbat in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The mosque was commissioned in 1649 CE by Prince Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in honor of his spiritual mentor Mullah Shah Badakhshi, a prominent Sufi saint of the Qadri order. Constructed using gray limestone, the mosque is architecturally unique and renowned for its rare “mosque within a mosque” design, where the central prayer sanctuary stands enclosed within an outer structure and courtyard, symbolizing spiritual introspection and layered sacred space. One of its most distinctive features is the stone lotus motif crowning the podium, bearing inscriptions dating from 1647–1649, reflecting the syncretic artistic expressions of the Mughal period. The mosque embodies the intellectual, mystical, and spiritual ethos of Dara Shikoh’s era, known for its emphasis on Sufism and interfaith dialogue. Situated on the southern slope of Hari Parbat, close to the Makhdoom Sahib Shrine, the mosque occupies an important place in Kashmir’s religious and cultural landscape. Although it is no longer used for active worship and remains in a partially ruined condition, the site is officially protected as a Monument of National Importance under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), highlighting its enduring historical and architectural value.
Year of Built: 17th Century
Address: Ziyarat Path, Botaraj Colony, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190003
Country: India
State: Jammu and Kashmir
District: Srinagar
Pincode: 190003
Longitude: 74.8164° E
Latitude: 34.1059° N