Indo Islamic Heritage
Masjid Char Minaar, associated with Hazrat Peer Bodla in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, is a lesser-known historical Islamic site reflecting the region's Sufi heritage. While specific records on this mosque are limited, Badaun's Islamic legacy is dominated by the Jama Masjid Shamsi, built in 1223 CE by Sultan Iltutmish. The area features several dargahs and shrines dedicated to Sufi saints, emphasizing spiritual devotion and architectural influences from the Delhi Sultanate era.
Badaun, located in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, holds a significant place in India's Islamic history as a former capital of the Delhi Sultanate under Sultan Iltutmish. The Masjid Char Minaar, linked to Hazrat Peer Bodla—a Sufi figure commemorated in local traditions—represents the blend of mosque architecture and shrine veneration typical of the region's medieval Islamic sites. However, verified historical documentation specifically for "Masjid Char Minaar" is scarce, and it may refer to a local structure or nickname inspired by four-minaret designs common in Indo-Islamic architecture. The site's spiritual importance likely stems from its association with Hazrat Peer Bodla, part of Badaun's network of Sufi shrines that include dargahs like those of Hazrat Makhdoom Shah and Hazrat Badrauddin (Choti Ziyarat), where devotees seek blessings for peace and healing. The primary mosque in this historical cluster is the Jama Masjid Shamsi (also known as Shamsi Shahi Masjid), constructed in 1223 CE by Sultan Shams ud-Din Iltutmish during his governorship of Badaun. This grand Friday mosque, the third oldest in India and seventh largest by capacity (accommodating 23,500 worshippers), exemplifies early Sultanate architecture with Persian and Afghan influences. Built on an elevated platform in Sotha Mohalla, it features a towering main gate of red marble standing 100 feet high, a central dome—the largest of its kind in any Indian mosque at the time—and surrounding smaller domes. The prayer hall's floor is paved with white marble (Sang-e-MarMar), and the complex includes a hauz (pond) for ritual ablutions and three wuzu khanas (washing and seating areas). Three gateways lead to the interior, with the western side dedicated to the mihrab, oriented toward Mecca. The mosque's construction marked Badaun's prominence as a center of Islamic learning and governance in the 13th century, predating expansions to Delhi's Jama Masjid and serving as the subcontinent's largest mosque for a period. Its elevated location makes it the tallest structure in Badaun, symbolizing spiritual authority amid the city's ancient landscape. While no direct records tie the Char Minaar name to this edifice, the design's emphasis on minarets aligns with the era's trend of multi-towered gateways, evoking later structures like Hyderabad's Charminar (1591 CE). The site's enduring role is as a place of communal prayer and Sufi reflection, drawing locals for Jumu'ah prayers and Urs celebrations honoring saints like Peer Bodla.
Year of Built: Not Available
Address: 24PF+98G, Hazrat Peer Bodla Rd, Budaun, Uttar Pradesh 243601
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Budaun
Pincode: 243601
Longitude: 79.1259°E
Latitude: 28.2356°N