THE WAZIR KHAN

MOSQUE
ITS AESTHETIC BEAUTY
CONTENTS

 INTRODUCTION
 PLAN OF MOSQUE
 DECORATION OF MOSQUE
 IMAGES OF MOSQUE
 AESTHETIC ASPECTS OF MOSQUE
 ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITION
 COMPARISON
 CONTRAST
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INDEXS
 INTRODUCTION

 The wazir khan mosque situated in Lahore like a

multifaceted diamond that Pakistan can really be proud
of. The style of the mosque is perso-Mughal, though its
founder was native of Punjab ,sheikh IIm-ud- din Ansari ,
son of Sheikh Abdul Latif , son of SHEIKH HISAM-UD-DIN.
 IIM-UD-DIN was given the title of wazir khan on the
occasion of the Prince( SHAH JEHAN)accession to throne
in 1627.Wazir khan appointed to the rank of 5,000 foot
with 3,000 horses and was honoured with one lac of
rupees with a robe of honour.
CONTINUED----------------------------------

 SHAH JAHAN CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF

ARCHITECTURE ARE IN THE FPRM OF VARIOUS BUILDNGS.
HIS CONSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED HAMMAMS SARAIS BAZARS
GARDENS MOSQUES HAWAILIES AND THE MOSQUE UNDER
DISSCUSSION I.E.WAZIR KHAN MOSQUE WHICH WOULD
KEEP HIS NAME ALIVE FOR AGES.
 PLAN OF THE MOSQUE

 Wazir khan himself was an expert of ISLAMIC Construction and culture.

Akbar extended fort & city as well, various buildings were constructed
during MUGHAL S rule . During thirty years of reign of Shah Jahan
Lahore had got much attention than any other city& this era was said
to be the golden period of south ASIA. One note worthy fact about the
buildings is that all the arterial routes of this part of the city passed
through chowk wazir khan, located in he east of this mosque.Nawab
Wazir Khan ,was the owner of all shops and houses on the either sides
of the streets from mosque to Delhi gate. He whole of the property
has become the private estate with exception of shops included in the
building of the mosque Near Lahore WAZIR KHAN constructed a new
town which came to be known as wazirabad.
CONTINUED-----------------------------------

 He also built a strong brick wall around his native town , chiniot & raised
bazars mosques sarais madrasas dispensaries wells etc. made of baked bricks.
He handed over these buildings and never had the opportunity of visiting his
native place.
 The present topic WAZIR KHAN MOSQUE consists of four PARTS
 In the 1st parts the plan of the mosque is unfolded with the help of sketches
and diagrams .
 Decorative details of different parts of the mosque .
 The factors revealing the beauty of the mosque have been discussed , colours
,sharp contrast and harmonizing colours and its symbolic representations .
 Subject matter
PLAN OF THE MOSQUE

 Wazir khan himself was an expert of Islamic construction and culture , that is
why he made plan of the mosque which is totally different and unique . The
surrounding architecture and its attached educational institute provide the
proof of its uniqueness, ITS plan prepared by an old student of MAYO SCHOOL
OF ARTS LAHORE N 1878 named Farid Bukhsh.
 The mosque is rectangular in plan measuring 84.85 meters east to west by
47.70 meters south to north . It is located on a raised platform whereas the
floor of the mosque is 132 cm .higher than that of the vestibule s. Its
imposing gateway is projected outward 68cm. From the low wall. The
octagonal engaged columns on the both sides of gateway are 51 cm. in
diameter , THE RECESS OF THE GAREWAY IS 6.40 METERS WIDE AND 3.96
METERS DEEP. The recess of half domed ceiling of gateway is 4.75 meters high
1-VESTIBULE COMPLEX

 The eastern side of the mosque enclosure is formed by an immense structure

the vestibule complex, 60.96 cms. Low than the level of the mosque which is
square. This doublestoryed vestibule proper has two corridors.
 VESTIBULE PROPER:The double-storeyed vestibule proper is square
externally and octagonal internally . It has been topped with a spacious
domed ceiling. The vestibule is accessible from four sides through arched
entrances .
 CORRIDORS
 THE corridors shooting out from the north and south sides of the vestibule
.similarly designed rooms are visible in the basement as well but these rooms
open to the exterior on both sides of the main gateway through low arches
with carved rosettes in their spandrels & these rooms are used stores.
 2: MINARETS

 The most distinguishing feature of the mosque is its four minarets each
32.10meters tall, standing in four corners of the courtyard. THE APEX OF
THE MINARET IS CROWNED WITH A KIOSK, HAVING EIGHT COLUMNS .The
diameter of the kiosk measures 3.14 meters .
3:IWANS & SIDE ENTRANCES

 The courtyard is surrounded , except on the west by thirty

double storeyed rooms of which six are on the eastern
side and twelve each on the northern and southern sides .
All rooms open into the courtyard through small wooden
doorways . The hujras surrounding the courtyard with
slight difference in their sizes one of them measuring 2.80
meters in width having niches in each wall, khatib” s room
is longer in size than other rooms around the courtyard.
IWAN&SIDE
ENTRANCES
4TH :PRAYER CHAMBER

 The western side of the mosque comprises of a rectangular hall

measuring 39.37 meters long and 12.60 meters wide with five high
arches in façade'. The central arch is higher and larger than side
arches of which there are two on each side of longer arch.The roof
carries five huge domes .The central one like the central arch is
higher and larger .It is 7.90 meters in diameters and 9.75 meters in
height where as the sides ones are 5.75 meters in diameters and 6.30
meters in height. There are compartments which are connected to the
sanctuary through an arched opening 83 cms wide which in the
northern end has an arched wooden door.
 DECORATION OF THE MOSQUE

 The intricate ornamentation of the building is

subordinated to its structure by being tactfully controlled.
EVERYWHERE in the building spaces or receptacles are
provided for coloured adronments.All the walls surface is
divided up into panels and bands accommodating variety
of decorations to exterior in exquisite mosaic & interior
has colourful fresco and stucco
#1.IMAGE :MAIN GATEWAY
 1.MAIN GATE WAY

 The huge gate way of the mosque depicting wonderful colours scheme
and exquisite designs invites everyone to enter the sacred building .it
look like a huge upright rectangular panel which accommodates in the
canter a high arch and is marked on both sides by two engaged
columns decorated by chevron patterns in blue and white and four
projecting narrow bands which encircle them a regular intervals
.THE FAÇADE OF THE GATEWAY HAS A RECTANGULAR BORDER FRAMING
THE DEEP RECESS OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE. Above the arch it takes the
form of a single elongated horizontal panel depicting calligraphy i.e.
kalmia Tayyiba in nastaliq in blue on white background. On the sides
of the entrance the border is divided into eight panels of which there
are four on each side with identical designs.
2: DEEP RECESS OF MAIN GATEWAY
 DESCRIPTION

 The gateway is fronted by an imposing brick coloured flight of steps

with six steads which leads one to the recess ,The recess is a
rectangular in plan with a half domed ceiling .
 THE VESTIBULE COMPLEX: It is composed of
 VESTIBULE PROPER
 CORRIDORS.
 The high domed ceiling crowning the octagonal vestibule presents a
zigzag pattern arranged in concentric rows converging at the top of
the ceiling in a multipetalous flowers. The design is painted in fine
white lines upon red brick coloured surface lending it more height and
depth.
 DOMES AND
TURRETS
 The roof of the vestibule proper carries a heavy and semi-
spherical double dome, topped with a huge pinnacle
having multifoliated base. The dome is devoid of coloured
decoration and balances the central dome of the
sanctuary. The vestibule has two turrets ,one each in the
northwest and south western corners .The lower part of
the turrets has a decorated low wall, adorned with
horizontally placed four rectangular panels .
 CORRIDORS

 The corridors of the vestibule have few coloured

decorations .The exterior of square vestibule facing north
and south have coloured decorations in spandrels of the
arches.
MINARETS IWANS AND SIDE ENTRANCE

 The minaret show three stages of construction in their elevation.

Stage 1-the base is square in ground plan stage 2,represented by
actual shaft, is octagonal, where as stage 3rd consists of kiosk & their
decoration changes from stage to stage.
 The doorways of small rooms hujras have decorations only in their
spandrels and in the lintels in the form of rectangular panels ,creating
harmony and infinity in the courtyard of the mosque. The space
between doorways are occupied by dadoes . The colour-scheme of
which harmonize with red-brick coloured walls. The broad borders of
the dadoes have brick-red , green , and black geometric lines
enclosing an abstract pattern in yellow green and brick red colours.
THE TOMB OF SHAKEH ISHAQ GAZRUNI

 In the south-western corner of the mosque is the tomb of

the SHAIKH ISHAQ GAZRUN who was a Sufi saint said to be
a native of gazrun in Persia. He lived and died in Lahore
city during the rule of the Tughlaq dynasty After his death
some miracles are reported and he became known as peer
sabz the green saint.
 PRAYER CHAMBER

 The west side of the mosque enclosure is occupied by the

prayer chamber which is rectangular in plan and has been
erected above the raised part of the pavement. The
prayer chamber is exquisitely decorated as is the main
gateway in fresco and mosaic depicting floral vegetal
geometrical abstract calligraphic and inscribed panels and
bands scattered on the walls ceilings soffits of the arches
dadoes parapets and floor.
IMAGES OF WAZIR KHAN MOSQUE
MAIN GATEWAY
PANEL IN THE WALL OF DEEP RECESS
CALLIGRAPHIC PANEL
EASTERN MINARET
CALLIGRAPHIC PANNELS
DOME CEILING
CALLIGRAPHIC PANELS DEPICTING SURA
ZUMAR
UPPER HALF OF THE MAIN MIHRAB
CALLIGRAPHIC PANELS
CORNERS WALLS
PANELS FROM FAÇADE OF VESTIBULE
VASE WITH VARIETY OF FLOWERS&PANEL
HAVINGBIG TREE WITH HANGING HAIRS
PANELS WITH SUN FLOWERS &OTHER