Indo Islamic Heritage
Solah Khamba Mosque is located within the Bidar Fort in Bidar, Karnataka. It is a historical mosque that is known for its distinctive architecture. The name "Solah Khamba" translates to "Sixteen Pillars," which refers to the sixteen pillars that support the mosque?s roof
The building, traditionally referred to as the Zanani Masjid, is a significant historical structure, named after its location within the women's enclosure of the Bidar Fort. The term "Solah Khamba" (meaning "sixteen pillars") is commonly used to describe the mosque due to the presence of sixteen distinct columns that define the central hall. While it has been widely considered as the congregational mosque of Bidar, some scholars, such as Helen Philon, argue that the building was originally designed as a royal ceremonial hall rather than a mosque meant for public congregation. Philon suggests that one of the key reasons for this interpretation is the mosque's location deep within the fort, which would have restricted access to the general populace, unlike a typical congregational mosque. The building's architecture is impressive, with a grand facade along the eastern side measuring 310 feet. This facade is adorned with an arcade of nineteen uniform arches, each spanning approximately 11 feet 4 inches in width and rising to about 20 feet in height. Above the arches, a parapet wall, likely a later addition, rises to further emphasize the mosque's monumental structure. The building is crowned with a massive dome, which is supported by a circular drum adorned with trefoil crenellations in relief, a typical feature of Islamic architectural styles. Inside, the hall stretches 294 feet 9 inches in length and 80 feet in width. The prayer hall is divided into ninety-five bays, segmented by nineteen aisles, each of which accommodates five bays. An interesting aspect of the building's design is the difficulty of light penetration due to the construction of royal palaces to the east. To address this, five smaller domes in the roof were designed with openings at their apexes, allowing natural light to filter into the interior. A significant feature of the interior is the recessed pentagonal mihrab on the western wall, which is accessed through a beautifully designed cusped arch. An inscription found during the clearing of debris in a decayed part of the building attributes the mosque's construction to Qubli Sultani, who founded it in the year 827 H (1423-4 CE) under the reign of Prince Muhammad. This inscription suggests that the building had royal patronage, further supporting the idea that it may have originally served ceremonial purposes.
Year of Built: 15th Century
Address: Ground Fort Area, Bidar, Karnataka
Country: India
State: Karnataka
District: Bidar
Pincode: 585401
Longitude: 77.5281
Latitude: 17.9208