Lying Next To Lal Darwaza, Masjid Khairul Manazil Is Delhi's Least Known & Best Preserved Monument

Khairul Manazil is sort of an oxymoron as far as the monuments of Delhi are concerned, being one of the best-preserved but least known of the city’s numerous mosques. Also serving as a madrasa (Islamic centre of learning), the mosque is still used for offering prayers. 

Built under the orders of Maham Anga, Akbar’s wet nurse, who was politically quite influential during Akbar’s early years as a ruler, the mosque was constructed in 1526 AD. Though sometimes overshadowed by the much larger Old Fort Complex on the opposite end of the road, it lies adjacent to Lal Darwaza, one of the gates to Sher Shah’s capital.

The Layout

Picture Credits: Yogesh Damle

Literally meaning ‘the most exemplary of abodes’, the entry gate leads to a hexagonal water reservoir at the centre of the courtyard. The three walls have small rooms which would have served as the madrasa & boarding house for the pupils while the wall on the West houses the mihrab (a niche in the wall of a mosque). The construction is mostly in red sandstone and limestone. Interestingly, the mosque was built without a foundation, a rarity in large constructions even today.

The Constant Debate

Picture Credits: Malte Scholz

The inscriptions are well preserved and detailed in Persian, the name acts as a chronogram, giving out the date of construction to 969 Hijri as per the Archaeological Survey of India. There is an unverified incident associated with the place wherein a slave tried to kill Akbar but missed his mark due to the king’s short height, hurting another soldier in the process. Also, there is constant debate about whether it was the mosque or the madrasa that was first established. 

Prayer Time

Picture Credits: hochu2da

The ‘Hauz’ or the reservoir is not functional anymore and is flocked by countless pigeons, as like most of the city’s monuments, water and grain are provided for the avifauna. Some of the inscriptions are in a dilapidated state and there is a lot of restoration work being carried on the immediate precincts. The monument is otherwise clean; the interiors around the mihrab are particularly well maintained, perhaps due to the mosque still being in use. The ASI tried to ban namaaz (Islamic prayer) in the mosque in 1992 but without success. The namazis also act as part-time attendants & the mornings/evenings see them in good numbers. 

The nearest metro station is a 15-minute walk from this mosque. Be modestly dressed & preferably carry some headgear when you come here. Photography should be avoided during namaaz hours. Also, avoid coming here during the wee hours of the morning.

Where | Masjid Khairul Manazil - Bapa Nagar, India Gate