Badshahi Masjid Lahore 4K | Badshahi Mosque Lahore | History of Badshahi Mosque | Travel with Umar

The Badshahi Mosque is a Mughal era mosque in Lahore, capital of Punjab, Pakistan. Badshahi Mosque is located in historical setting. Its front side faces Lahore Fort and on the northern side is Minar-e Pakistan, on northeast corner is Samadhi Ranjit Sing, on southern side is the Walled City of Lahore. The mosque is considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks.

The Badshahi Mosque was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1671 AD The construction of the mosque completed in two years until 1673 AD under the supervision of Muzaffer Hussain, also Known as "Fidai Khan Koka". The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest and most recent of the grand imperial mosques of the Mughal-era, and is the second-largest mosque in Pakistan and is now one of the Pakistan's most iconic sights.

The entrance to the mosque lies on the western side of the rectangular Hazuri Bagh, and faces the famous Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort, which is located on the eastern side of the Hazuri Bagh. The mosque is next to the Roshnai Gate, one of the original thirteen gates of Lahore which is to the southern side of the Hazuri Bagh.

The architectural composition is square based setting including central courtyard with water-pond, four octagonal minarets at four corners of square plot, a square entrance lobby accessed by 22 steps. There are three domes with marble cladding. The interior of prayer hall is ornamented with inlay marble, Stucco tracery, fresco painting etc.

During 1939-1960, a comprehensive restoration was taken up to revive the original shape of the mosque.

There is also a small gallery at upper floor of the main entrance which contains relics attributed to Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), Hazrat Ali (RA), Hazrat Fatima (RA), Imam Hassan (RA), Imam Hussain (RA) and Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani (RA).

Near the entrance of the mosque lies the Tomb of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, a poet widely revered in Pakistan as the founder of the Pakistan Movement which led to the creation of Pakistan as a homeland for the Muslims of British India. Also located near the mosque's entrance is the tomb of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, who is credited for playing a major role in preservation and restoration of the mosque.