Indo Islamic Heritage
Domni Masjid (also known as Jama Masjid Qila or Shia Jama Masjid) is a historic late 18th-century mosque located in the Zakhira locality of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Built in the Nawabi style, it features three domes and two lofty minarets, serving as a key congregational site for the local Shia Muslim community in the heart of the city's old quarter.
Domni Masjid stands as a modest yet significant architectural remnant of Bareilly's Nawabi era, reflecting the region's rich Islamic heritage during the period of Oudh's influence in Rohilkhand. Constructed in the late 18th century by Mirza Hasan Raza Khan, a prominent official under Asaf-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Oudh, the mosque was originally designed as a congregational prayer hall for the Shia community. Its location in Zakhira, near the historic Qila (fort) area, underscores its role in the fortified urban core developed during the Rohilla and Oudh administrations. The mosque's architecture embodies the transitional Indo-Islamic style prevalent in late Mughal and Nawabi Uttar Pradesh, characterized by a rectangular prayer hall elevated on a plinth, crowned by three bulbous domes that symbolize spiritual elevation. Flanking the facade are two tall minarets, each rising gracefully to provide a commanding presence over the surrounding lanes, used traditionally for the call to prayer (adhan). The structure is primarily built from local brick and lime mortar, with subtle stucco decorations on the arches and mihrab (prayer niche) facing Mecca, though much of the original ornamentation has been preserved through minimal interventions. Later renovated by the Nawab of Rampur in the early 19th century, the mosque benefited from enhanced structural integrity and aesthetic refinements, ensuring its endurance through the turbulent years of British colonial rule and subsequent independence. Today, it remains an active place of worship, hosting daily prayers and special Shia observances, particularly during Muharram processions that weave through Bareilly's old mohallas. As a local landmark, Domni Masjid quietly preserves the communal fabric of Zakhira, a neighborhood shaped by centuries of Pathan and Persianate migrations, offering devotees a serene space amid the city's bustling heritage zones.
Year of Built: Not Available
Address: MASJID DOMNI, Zakhira, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243003
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Bareilly
Pincode: 243003
Longitude: 79.4051° E
Latitude: 28.3666° N