Identifier: handbooktravelle00john Title: A handbook for travellers in India, Burma, and Ceylon . Year: 1911 (1910s) Authors: John Murray (Firm) Subjects: India -- Guidebooks Burma -- Guidebooks Sri Lanka -- Guidebooks Publisher: London : J. Murray Calcutta : Thacker, Spink, & Co. Contributing Library: University of California Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Text Appearing Before Image: Gate. 20. Elephant Gate. 21. Kiosk of Salimgarh. [To face p. 174. ROUTE 13. THE FORT—MOTI MASJID 175 found anywliere. It was commenced1056 A.H. = 1648 A.D., and finished1063 A.H. = 1655 A.D., and is said tohave cost Rs. 300,000. It was builtby Shah Jahan on ground sloping Moti Masjid. from W. to E., and the fine entrancegateway of red sandstone makes atrihedral projection from the centreof the E. face : it is approached by adouble staircase with a restored rail-ing. The exterior is faced with slabsof red sandstone, the interior builtof marble — white, blue, and greyveined. The moment you enterthe effect of its courtyard is surpass-ingly beautiful. In the centre there is a marbletank, 37 ft. 7 in. sq., for ablutions,and between it and the S.E. innercorner of the mosque there is anancient sundial, consisting of anoctagonal marble pillar, 4 ft. high,with no gnomon, but simply twocrossed lines and an arc. A marblecloister runs round the E., N., andS. sides of the court, which measures

Text Appearing After Image: 234 and 183 ft., interrupted by arch-ways, of which those in the N. andS. sides are closed. The mosqueproper, or liwan, measures 149 ft.by 56 ft., and consists of three aislesof seven bays opening on to the court-yard, and surmounted by three domes.On the entablature over the frontrow of supporting pillars, i.e. onthe E. face, there is an inscriptionrunning the whole length, the lettersbeing of black marble inlaid intothe white. The inscription says thatthe mosque may be likened to aprecious pearl, for no other mosqueis lined throughout with marble likethis. Narrow flights of steps leadto the top of the gateway and tothe roof of the mosque, from whichthere is a fine view. During theMutiny this mosque was used as anhospital. Beyond the Mina Bazaar on theright and the descent to the closedWater Gate on the left, is theentrance to the fine court of theDiwan-i-Am, with colonnades latelyrestored. In front of the DurbarHall is the tomb of Mr Colvin,Lieut.-Governor of the N.W. Pro-vinces, wh

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