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Mughal period Mosque at Wah Town
Visits 439
Visits 439
May 04, 2012
Mughal period monuments are located almost in every important town of Attock and Rawalpindiand Islamabad. The tombs of Hakims brothers and Lala Rukh at Hasan Abdal, several tombs, fort and Bara dari at Attock Khurd, Akhbar’s mosque at Kuri town and his soldier’s tomb at Bagh Joghian, Kentalla baoli in Islamabad, Wah gardens, Baoli and historical three domed mosque at Wah, all belong to Mughal period. However, Jaima mosque of Mughal period at Wah is quite prominent and lies very close to Wah garden also of Mughal period.

The mosque is believed to have been built by Mughal emperorAkhbar(1556-1605). It was later renovated by emperorJahangir(1605-1627).

The mosque is three domed structure, flanked by four two minarets which appears to have added much later. The mosque is famous for stucco, murals and calligraphy. Such decoration cannot be seen elsewhere in Potohar. However, there are three domes mosques in Potohar which are noted for beautiful murals and stucco decoration. But they were all built during the Sikh and British periods. However, Mai Qamro mosque built during the early Mughal period has not survived the paintings or stucco decoration. It lies in very pathetic condition. All the pilaster of the mosque has come off.

The Jamia mosque is built on podium. Three arch entrances lead to main prayer hall. The arch entrances are decorated with Quranic verses. Such refined workmanship is not seen elsewhere in the Potohar region.

Unlike some other historical mosques, this mosque is not abandoned. Local people still say their prayers in the mosque.Some years ago local people repaired the mosque thus bringing some changes. They replaced the original wall by buildingnew wall around the mosque and previously existing tile floor. They also restored the beautiful decoration inside the mosque and old patterns were filled with fresh colours. “Masons were brought from Chakwal and Multan who repaired the mosque and repainted the same designs by reproducing the old patterns on the tracing papers” said Muhammad Zakir one of the donors.


The domedceiling of the mosque bear the haft rang (seven colours) patternswhich was peculiar style of the Mughal painters. In this style seven colours were used to make pattern. This style was introduced by Persian artists in the Mughal paintings. Later on it was also used in tile mosaic. The interior wall also depicts floral and geometric designs. On some patterns the glass pieces were added to make the design more perceptible.

There is stucco decoration on the spandrels of the arches. Normally, one finds tile decoration or painting on the spandrels. However, this is distinctive feature of the mosque. One finds the combination of stucco and glass work on some spandrels, again very peculiar style of decorating the spandrels. The soffits (inner spaces of arches) are also treated in similar fashion. However, one finds fruit dishes and flowers in blossom and eight-armed star designs on the pendentives (spaces where two walls combine together).

This mosque is not under the administration of the Auqaf. The concerned authorities should enlist itas historical monument and should declare this as tourist destination. Tourist who intends to visitWah garden should also be enlightened or guided about this Mughal period mosque because it is just at walking distance from the garden. But unfortunately, tourists who visit the Wah garden are not aware about this historical mosque.

The writer is a Research Anthropologist at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad. He may be contacted at:zulfi04@hotmail.com

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