Khirki Masjid - The Window Mosque

Hidden in a narrow lane bang opposite Select City Walk - the favorite mall of all is this nearly 650 year old gigantic mosque, standing majestically amidst a congested colony of nondescript structures in Khirki village. 

It is believed to be designed and commissioned by the son of Khan I Jahan Maqbool Telengani - the Prime minister of Feroz Khan  who was a very powerful man in his time. He was a convert to Islam and an enthusiastic builder of mosques as a testimony to his adopted faith. Between the king (who himself was a patron of architecture), along the prime minister and his son - whose name was Juna Telengani, they constructed several buildings, hunting lodges, mosques and bridges and Khirki mosque is believed to have been constructed as an inauguration of Firoz Shah Tughlaq's rule. 

Built on a raised platform, almost with a look of a fortress, the Khirki Masjid is a blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. 

Rows after rows of arches adorn the interior of this masterpiece. It is one of the few mosques constructed that was closed on top. The roof of the mosque is divided into squares through which sunlight streams inside to create a beautiful lattice of light and shadow. The roof consists of a lot of domes (81 as per facts). In its ruggedness and severity, the blackened walls and the collapsed domes this is one of the most romantic ruins of Delhi and is an architectural marvel. 

Domed towers with tapering walls of typical signature style of the Tughlaqs, stand in each of its corners. The pillared hall with its 25 squares is breathtakingly beautiful. The hide and seek of light and shadow is played by the lights entering from the Khirkis(windows) carved out of stone with perforated screens. The mihrab or the mecca facing wall has no window and is dark. 

Climb up to the rooftop to discover symmetry and mathematical precision in its construction. Sadly, from here one can also witness the heartbreaking lack of maintenance of this rich heritage with caved in domes and half completed restoration work. It is infested by bats who have made nests very comfortably on its domes. Stench of bat droppings fill the air and create filthy floors. No one enforces the rule of ASI of not having buildings constructed within 100 meters of a protected monument. This rare gem of a 14th century building from a radically different world is gradually getting devoured by the claws of civilisation as this magnum opus of architecture is slowly getting choked by the colony surrounding it.