Introduction

The Thousand Lights Mosque is a beautiful early 19th century structure built by the Adyar family on a site popular with Shia Muslims as an assembly venue during Moharram.

The mosque is believed to have derived its name from the era when a thousand lights were required to light up the assembly hall. While others believe that the Indian National Congress gave the mosque the thousand lights to mark their first visit to the city. Other than a unique name, the mosque has a beautiful medieval style façade with minarets and bulbous domes, and inscriptions from the holy Quran on its walls.

After several rounds of renovation over the years, today the mosque stands 64-foot tall (19.2 meters) with multiple domes flanked by two towering minarets, and inscriptions from the holy Quran on its façade.

Further on explore its interiors; the main area serves as a prayer hall for men, with a separate room on the same level for women. The two rooms on the upper floor represent the bargah or sanctuary. Sprawled across three acres of land donated by Nawab Wallajah, the Thousand Lights Mosque is an architectural marvel from the medieval times. The complex also houses a library and guesthouse.

Special Attributes

It is a 19th century mosque and a popular pilgrimage center of Shia Muslims during Moharram.

Nuisance

Touts, hawkers

Dressing restrictions

Dress conservatively, avoid wearing short or revealing clothes.

Connectivity

Cars, Buses, Auto-rickshaws

Enjoyed by

Religion and architecture buffs

Exposure

You will be indoors.

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Basic, plan accordingly

Things Not Allowed

Footwear

Tip

Keep your tone low inside the mosque, and turn your phone to silent mode.

Type of site

Place of worship/mosque