page_title: Khirki Mosque
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Khirki Mosque / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: English: View of interior courtyard.
context_page_description: Khirki Fort, approached from the Khirki Village in South Delhi and close to the Satpula or the seven arched bridge on the edge of southern wall of Jahapanah, was a qila built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty. The word 'Khirki' prefixed to fort is an Urdu word that means "window" and hence is also called "The Fort of Windows".
  The Fort, which is in a quadrangular shape, with an unusual fusion of Islamic and traditional Hindu architecture. It is said to be the only monument style fort in North India, which is mostly covered; the totally covered fort of the Sultanate period is, however, in South India at Gulbarga in North Karnataka.
context_section_description: The Mosque has a 52 m (170.6 ft)x52 m (170.6 ft) square plan in an area of 87 m² (936.5 sq ft). It is raised on a plinth of 3 m (9.8 ft). There are four open courtyards (square in size of  9.14 m (30.0 ft) on each side) encircled by arcades built with 180 square structural columns and 60 pilasters, which run in north–south direction and divides into aisles. The open courtyards are the source of light and ventilation to the internal prayer spaces. The roof is partitioned into 25 squares of equal size with 9 small domes in each square (totaling to 81 domes) and alternated by 12 flat roofs to cover the roof. The four courtyards provide light and ventilation. The four corners of the mosque are adorned with towers with three protruding gateways, one in the middle of each face, with tapering turrets flanking each gate. The southern gate, with imposing steps at the main entrance, exhibits a combination of arch and trabeated construction. It has an ornamental rectilinear frame. The turrets flanking the southern and northern gates are circular in shape; the articulation on these gives them a three storied appearance. The main gate, which leads to the qibla on the western wall, has a projecting mihrab. Above the vaulted first floor cells, ubiquitous arch windows (carved out of stone guard) with perforated screens or jalis or tracery, known as "Khirkis", are seen on the second floor. However,the foyer in front of the mihrab is not well lighted since light from the latticed windows on the second floor do not penetrate this space. The approach to the roof of the mosque is from the east gate, and the view from the roof leaves a lasting impression of the geometrical design of the Mosque.
  The mosque's walls are of rubble masonry construction with plastered surface on the outside. The interior walls are bland but provided with traditional carved stone screens. The symmetrically designed admirable mosque is considered as one of “the finest architectural compositions of the Sultanate history.” It was considered Firuz Shah's architectural benefaction.
  The importance of the Khirki Mosque's architectural elegance has been considered a precursor to the intensely metaphorical Mughal architecture (1526-1857), with the Lodhi period's (1451–1526) architecture – the Delhi Sultanate's last dynasty – marking the transition.
caption: View of interior courtyard
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