Nagina Masjid

Great monument of Mughals architecture in Agra is the Nagina Masjid, located almost 2 km away from Taj Mahal. It was built in between 1631 – 1641 by the royal Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The feature of this spectacular mosque that makes it extraordinary from other buildings of the Agra Fort is the number of arches which are carved on the top. There is a huge curve built in the middle of the façade of the Nagina Masjid i.e. in the parapet as well as in the chhajja. This enhances the beauty of the central part of the façade. This unique feature is known as bangladar and is a unique characteristic of this mosque.

The Nagina Masjid of Agra is also referred to as the Gem Mosque and is made up of pure white marble. This masjid of Agra was meant for the personal use of the Mughal rulers and their aristocratic friends. Situated at the northwest corner of the Machchhi Bhawan, the Nagina Masjid of Agra has a marble paved court which is enclosed by walls on almost all the sides, along with a special prayer chamber on the west. The prayer chamber is adorned by three dome structures on its top, made up of delicately selected piece of white marbles. This mosque of Agra has three-arched façade, which are specially supported by the thin piers, right at the entrance. The middle arch has the maximum numbers of cusps.