JAUNPUR

　It is a town situated on the north shore of the basin of the River Gumti. On the south shore called Zafarabad, there are remains of Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries. Jaunpur was established in 1360 by the ruler Firoz Shah Tughluq of the Tughluq Dynasty, whose capital was Delhi. The fort of that period still remains. Later on, the town became the capital of the Sharqi Dynasty and a few mosques with huge pylons (iwan) were built between 1394 and 1478. Among these are the following 5 mosques, which currently exist. Despite of the occupation by Sikandar of the Lodi Dynasty, independence was preserved until Akbar incorporated it completely under the Mughar Empire control in 1559. As well as mosques, Akbar Bridge built by Munim Khan is well known as a relic of the Mughar Empire. (Naoko Fukami)

1.ATALA MASJID (1423)

2.LAR DARWAZA MASJID (1450？)

3.KHALIS MUKHLIS MASJID (ｃ.1430)

4.JAMA MASJID (ｃ.1470)

5.JHAHANGIRI MASJID (Middle of 15th C.)

6.BARHA MASJID (The 18th century or later)

7.FORT (From the second half of 14th C.)

1.ATALA MASJID

This mosque is called Atala Masjid (Atala = nonpareil). There is a legend that it was built at the site of a Hindu temple that deified a goddess named "Atala Dewi", using the temple's materials. There is a theory that it was built by Khwajah Kamil Khan in 1373. Also another theory assumes that it was built by Shams al-Din Ibrahim (1402-36) in a place where Firoz Shah Tughluq was planning to build a mosque. (Matsuo Ara) 　→Detailed Explanation 　→Plan and Photos of each part

▲The facade of the prayer room and the north corridor from the southeast

2.LAR DARWAZA MASJID

Although it has Jaunpur style pylons, unlike Atala Masjid and Jama Masjid, three entrances under the great arch are supported by Hindu style pillars. When we visited the site, the upper part of the building had collapsed and looked like "ruins". I wonder what it looks like currently. This common name means "mosque with a red entrance gate" and it is believed that the name came from the fact that it was painted with vermilion sand. However this mosque is small compared to the other mosques, east and south gates are in pylon style. There is a theory that it was built under the reign of Mahmud Shah (1435-58) by his empress Bib Raja employing Hindu masons. However, P. Brown concludes that there is no trace of significant locality seen in this building. It seems, though, that the pillars used in the aforementioned front entrance and inside the prayer room, are in Hindu style. Like most other remains in this area, there is zanana for women's prayers. This, as well as perforated stone screens, Jali seen in various places in the building, can be seen as a special feature of mosques in Jaunpur. (Matsuo Ara) 　→Plan and Photos of each part

▲Viewing the prayer room 　from the courtyard

3.KHALIS MUKHLIS MASJID

This mosque is said to be built around 1430 under Sultan Ibrahim reign and it was named after two superintendents of the time, Malik Khalis and Malik Mukhlis. It is a Jaunpur style mosque similar to the aforementioned Atala Masjid, although it is smaller and simpler in form and structure. Examples of this are seen in structure of the front pylon and decorations. (Matsuo Ara) 　→Plan and Photos of each part

▲View from the northeast

4.JAMA MASJID

	This mosque is assumed to have been built around 1470, later than Atala Masjid and Khalis Mukhlis Masjid. Many scholars assume that it was built under the last sultan of the actual Sharqi Dynasty, Husain Shah (1458-1479). It is the biggest mosque among those in Jaunpur and is thus well known by the public as Jama Masjid. (Matsuo Ara) 　→Detailed Explanation 　→Plan and Photos of each part
▲The facade of the prayer room

5.BARHA MASJID

Having a flat roof and iwan at the entrance, this mosque can be seen as a mosque built in the middle or later period of the Muhgar Empire. It is unique that the central entrance is not open and is filled by tall mihrab style wall. It is assumed that this entrance was meant for those praying at the front garden, but this front entrance is uncommon among the numerous mosques in South Asia. Inside the prayer room, Hindu style pillars are employed. (Matsuo Ara) 　→Photos of the prayer room

▲Viewing the prayer room from 　the southeast

6.JHAHANGIRI MASJID

Although three entrances are supported by Hindu style pillars, the other parts of the facade have the same style as the other Jaunpur mosques. The name of this mosque "Jhahangiri" means perforated stone screen, as does jali, and it is understood that this name was used because of the prominent sculpture on the front wall. The other common name of this building, Jahan Juli mosque, may come from a saint named Hazrat Sayyid Jahan that the assumed builder of this mosque, Sultan Ibrahim(1401-40) venerated. Currently only the front part with its collapsed upper side remains. Although there is a theory that it was destroyed by Sikandar Shah of the Lodi Dynasty in Delhi, another theory assuming the building was left unfinished is more convincing, judging from the current state. J. Marshall assumes that this mosque was built by the same craftsman as Atala Masjid, as the style is very similar, despite the fact that it is smaller in scale. Setting aside the legitimacy of this assumption, it can be said that the technique used in the mosque is outstanding, from the viewpoint of the remaining delicate sculpture of the facade. (Matsuo Ara) 　→The List of photos

▲From the southeast

7.FORT

Jaunpur is surrounded by walls built under Firoz Shah Tughluq reign. What we cite here is a part of the fort. The current fort still has a bastion with a lookout and a turret and it fully shows the original majestic structure. The gate is still used as a passage. Currently the outside east gate shows the same structure and style as the walls and the other gates, however, it was originally a magnificent gate with arch and walls, similar to that of mosques with the unique local style. (Matsuo Ara) 　 　→View other photos

▲Viewing the east gate and 　the fort from the east

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