MOSQUE OF HAIBAT KHAN

 

 This mosque is often regarded to be similar to the Mosque of Ahmad Shah. The east front arch-shaped wall is taller in the centre. It has three arch-shaped entrances. Either side of the central part lacks a minar on the ground. However, it has two slender towers above the line of the eaves where the battlements are. There are semi-circular parts projecting, and corresponding to the three mihrabs. In the north and south of the back side, there are unique towers of circular sections. There are entrances in the three sides of the courtyard. The east one is at the front gate, having a square plan , a low dome and 12 pillars converted from a Hindu or Jain temple, as does the inside of the mosque.

 The east front of this mosque has no decorations except for the small openwork windows between the three arch-shaped entrances. The inside of the prayer room does not look like that of a mosque at first glance, having pagan pillars and ceiling. In my experience, there seem to be few examples in South Asia, which use elements from the pagan temples so obviously.
(Matsuo Ara)

 

 

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