Pakistan has some of the most beautiful and architecturally stunning mosques. From the historic beauty of Wazir Khan to the futuristic lines of Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, these mosques are sight to behold.
Here are some of the most popular and stylistic mosques to explore in Pakistan:
Mahabat Khan Mosque
Located in the western part of Chowk Yadgar in Peshawar, the 17th century mosque is famous for its gorgeous geometric design. The interior of Mahabat Khan Mosque is covered in beautiful tiles and detailed frescoes.
After you have enjoyed the beautiful interior, you can head out to the historic caravanserai to the east to get the best view of the mosque’s stunning plaza and minarets.
Tooba Mosque
The Korangi district in Karachi is not a very popular place for visitors, but the Tooba Mosque is a sight to behold. The single-domed structure with pure white marble is a dazzling structure.
The locals of Korangi call it ‘Gol Masjid’ due to its round shape. The mosque has fountains and water features that lead to a giant hall that can hold up to 5,000 people. It was built by Pakistani architect, Dr Babar Hamid Chauhan in 1969. The mosque is a popular gathering spot for locals and travelers during the evenings.
Shah Jahan Mosque
Another architectural masterpiece built during the Mughal era, Shah Jahan Mosque is an iconic structure. Made from red bricks and covered with distinct blue tiles, the mosque can be found in the provincial town of Thatta in the heart of Sindh.
It is said that the mosque was built as a gift to the people of Thatta for their hospitality during Emperor Shah Jahan’s royal visit. The mosque is famous for its 93 domes that are decorated with radiant blue and white mosaic.
Wazir Khan Mosque
Deep in the busy streets of Old Lahore, we can find the beautiful Wazir Khan Mosque. Its distinctive onion-shaped domes and minarets can easily be spotted by tourist and travelers passing through the historic Delhi Gate. The true artistry can be found inside the mosque as it is completely covered in mosaics, consisting of brightly colored tiles.
The mosque was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and is still just as elegant as it was during that era. With stunning calligraphy verses of the Holy Qur’an and Persian poetry with floral designs, Wazir Khan Mosque is more a work of art than a place of worship.
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Grand Jamia Mosque
The only 21st century mosque on the list, the Grand Jamia Mosque is a beautiful addition to the Lahore skyline. The imposing structure in Bahria Town was designed by Nayyar Ali Dada in 2014. The mosque’s design pays homage to some of the other famous Pakistani mosques on this list.
With a beautiful interior covered by over four million handcrafted tiles from Multan, the Grand Jamia Mosque has a breath-taking design. Once you enter, you will be blown away by the grand beauty of the mosque as it is decorated with custom-made Turkish carpets and 50 chandeliers imported from Iran.
That’s not all! The mosque has an Islamic heritage museum with rare Qur’anic collections, an Islamic library and an Islamic art gallery. It is currently the third largest mosque in Pakistan.
Faisal Mosque
No list of beautiful mosques would be complete without mentioning Faisal Mosque. Inspired by the Bedouin tents, this stunning structure has always set itself apart from other mosques due to its modernistic design. Named after the Saudi King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Faisal Mosque is the iconic symbol of Islamabad landscape.
Designed by Turkish architect, Vedat Dalokay, the mosque’s 88m-high minarets dominates the city’s skyline alongside Margalla Hills. What’s unique about the mosque is that it does have the common dome design that is often associated with every other mosque.
Badshahi Mosque
Ask anyone to name the most popular mosque in Pakistan, chances are that the first name on their mind would be Badshahi Mosque. It is a breath-taking building located in the heart of Lahore. The mosque has been visited by countless celebrities and public figures including the Princess of Wales, Diana, and most recently the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Built in 1673, Badshahi Mosque was considered to be the largest mosque in the world for over 300 years until Faisal Mosque took the title. With its dazzling minarets and domes, the mosque is the true beauty of Lahore. The intricate frescoes and stucco tracery, the level of artistry is unlike any other.
Despite biased depictions of Pakistanis in Hollywood and Bollywood movies, many international and not-so-friendly Indian directors can’t help but capture the magnificence of the Badshahi Mosque in their films.
Why travel all the way to Turkey or UAE when you can just bask in the magnificence of these structures. Don’t believe us, just ask the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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