TEMPLES - COUNTRY / STATE / DISTRICT WISE - Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianism & Islamism

• Hinduism Temples & Heritage Sites
• Jainism Temples & Heritage Sites 
• Buddhist Temples and Heritage Sites 
• Christianism - Churches and Heritage Sites
• Islamism - Mosques and Heritage Sites

ISLAMISM - MOSQUES & HERITAGE SITES

STATE /DISTRICT	PLACE	DESCRIPTION
Chennai Dist	Chepauk	Langar Khana & Azeempet
Chennai Dist	Pallavaram	Hazrath Syed Badrudeen Shaheed Dargah
Chennai Dist	Pallavaram	Asthana-E-Moula Ali (A.S) Dargah & Mosque
Chennai Dist	Poonamallee	Big Mosque - Periya Pallivasal
Chennai Dist	Royapuram	Kunangudi Masthan Dargah
Chennai Dist	Theosophical Society	The Mosque
Chennai Dist	Triplicane	Amir Mahal
Chennai Dist	Triplicane	Wallajah Big Mosque
Chennai Dist	Triplicane	Wallajah Big Mosque
Erode Dist	Thalavadi	Tippu Sultan connection and Mosque
Ranipet Dist	Arcot	Saadatullah Khan Tomb / Pachaikal Mosque
Ranipet Dist	Arcot	Alambana Fort with Muslim structures
Salem Dist	Sankagiri Fort	Mosque
Thiruvallur Dist	Palaverkadu (Pulicat )	The Mosque ( Chinna Pallivasal )
Vellore Dist	Kurangu Malai	Tippu Sultan Mosque
Villupuram Dist	Gingee Fort/ Senji Fort	Sadatullakhan Mosque
OTHER STATES
Andhra Pradesh	Hyderabad	Charminar
Maharashtra	Aurangabad	Bibi Ka Maqbara

Big Mosque / Poonamalle Mosque/ Jummah Masjid / ஜும்மா மஸ்ஜித், Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

…. A Continuation post to  Sri Panayathamman Temple  - Exploring Poonamallee – A Heritage Walk 

15^th April 2018.

During our walk we had covered this  Mosque also, apart from Hindu Temples and Churches. The Mosque follows the principles of Ahle Sunnath-wal-Jama’th.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This inscription was estampaged and recorded by Pulavar Se. Raju, when he was worked with Thanjavur Tamil University.  This inscription is recorded in Indo-moslemica, 1938 and Annual report on Epigraphy (B) 303 & 304 of 1939. This is the first Mosque built in Indo – Saracenic  Style in Tamil Nadu. After renovations it is not looking like Indo Saracenic style and also it was learnt this has been converted as Dargah. In the inscription plaque, they thanked Se. Raju  for identifying the details of this mosque. Now the inscription was completely covered with tiles. 

As per the inscription this Mosque was built and completed on 3^rd August 1653 AD by one Rustam and his father Asthirabath Dhul-fikr, who worked under Nawab Janablath-Ul-Mulki Mir Muhammed,  the representative of Golconda,  during this period Madras was under the rule of Golconda King, Hajrat Alampanna Sultan Abdullah Syed. Sujayitha was the  Hawaldar of the fort Poonamallee at that time. 

LOCATION OF THE MOSQUE :CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

To be Continued ….. Exploring Poonamallee – A Heritage Walk

Tippu Sultan's connection with Mosque, Thalavadi, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

04^th November 2017.

In the ancient times the Egyptians   and Romans  traded with Tamil Nadu through  sea ports like Thondi, Musuri  and the  Palakkad Passage of Western Ghats. This route is called as Rajakesari Trading route.  The Trading route splits in to three from Palakkad passage. The east side route goes to Poombukar  through Chera’s Capital Karur and Chozhas Capital Uraiyur.  The second route goes to Madurai Via Pollachi and Palani.  The third route goes to Mysore via Mettupalayam, Bhavani Sagar, Thengumarada,  Thalavadi and Samraj nagar.

This third route was used by Tippu Sultan  after relaying from his capital Srirangapatna to Mettupalayam, hence called as Tippu Sultan road. It was also told that Tippu Sultan travelled from Srirangapatna to Sathyamangalam in half an hour time ( May not be possible ). Tippu constructed some Mosques on the route and one such mosque exists at Thalavadi till date. ( Will be written in a separate post ).

On both side of the roads banyan trees were planted. Now these trees covers the approximate width of 30 to 40 feet road. While relaying lot of villages were evacuated.  This route from Srirangapatna to Sathyamangalam passes through thick forest and part of the road is open to public  now and Display board as Sultan Road also erected.

There are many remains of of Tippu Sultan in Kongu Mandalam. In remembrance of Tippu Sultan, a road was named after Sultan Road at Punjai Puliampatti and  Two Villages are named as Tultan Pettai near Palladam and Mangalam Tiruppur. There is also a Mosque at Coimbatore where Tippu Sultan prayed.  

 

This Sathyamangalam forest is  also declared as Tiger reserve forest.  It is essential to get permission from the forest Department to venture in to the forest area.

It was told that a mosque exists at Thalavadi, built by Tippu Sultan and showed us a glass framed letter. We took a photo of the same and  verified with urdu language known experts. The letter was a thanks letter written to S M Muhammad Khan Allahuthalla by the Thalavadi muslims for the construction of the Mosque and not having connection with Tippu Sultan. The Photo says that,  Initially Janab Allahuthalla gave Rs 5000 before going to haj yatra for construction of this Mosque. The Locals of Thalavadi collected an amount of Rs 7848 and  found this amount many not be sufficient complete the Mosque. So the locals  gave the money collected to Allahuthalla and  asked him to take the responsibility of completing  the mosque.  The Mosque belongs to early 20^th century.

  

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Amir Mahal / The Arcot Nawabs Palace – A Heritage Walk with Kobai Anwar.

…a continuation post to The Arcot Nawabs Trail at Triplicane - A Heritage walk with Kombai S Anwar - PART -III ( WALLAJAH BIG MOSQUE )

21^th August 2017.

Finally reached our last stop of our Heritage walk at Amir Mahal on Bharathi Salai, Royapettah. After the death of the last Nawab in 1855, the Khalas Mahal was heavily in debts. The British took over the Palace and Nawab’s successors moved to Shaadi Mahal. After British recognized,  the Prince of Arcot and moved to this Amir Mahal. The Mahal is like a mansion, has about 300 and odd rooms. The present prince of Arcot Mohammed Abdul Ali with his  three brothers still lives in Amir Mahal. The present Prince of Arcot enjoys the privileges as a rank of state Cabinet Minister by the Govt of India.

 

The Amir Mahal is about 300 meters off main road with an entrance arch. Cannons are lined up on the right side of the Amir Mahal portico. We are allowed to visit the ground floor lounge, First floor Durbar Hall and Dining hall.  The Amir Mahal, display contains the Photos of Nawabs taken with important personalities, paintings of former Nawabs, who holds power, arts, rifles  and palanquin ( at the ground Floor lounge ) etc. The durbar hall is  beautifully decorated and the walls are adorned with paintings of former Nawabs.

We were also allowed take photographs and Mr Kombai S Anvar asked us not to post in any media. After thanking the staffs, wounded our "The Arcot Nawabs Trail at Triplicane" heritage walk. After the Heritage walk we landed at Rathna café for our break fast. Disbursed after thanking Kombai S Anwar for the excellent Heritage walk and said good bye to all participants, hoping to meet in the next opportunity.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 

Canons on the left  

End of The Arcot Nawabs Trail at Triplicane.    

Wallajah Big Mosque, The Arcot nawabs Trails, A Heritage walk with Kobai Anwar. Chennai Tamil Nadu.

… A Continuation post to The Arcot Nawabs Trail at Triplicane – a Heritage walk with Kombai S Anwar – Part- II ( Azeempet ) 

21^st August 2017.

After AZEEMPET, we headed towards the Wallajah Big Mosque. During our earlier visit to this Wallajah Big Mosque Wallajah Big Mosque, we are  not allowed in side the prayer hall, instead a person took us around the  mosque. But this walk along with Mr Anwar we were given a warm welcome and the ladies are also allowed inside the prayer hall. After washing our feet entered in to the mosque.

The complex consists a Mosque and a Dargah with a  big open space in front. The mosque is with two minarets,  was built  during 18^th century by Mohammad Ali Khan Wallajah with stone including ceiling. The minarets are built with stucco. It was told that the minaret stupi or kalasams are made of Gold.

  

Wallajah followed the secularism during his rule.  The niche of the centre of the mosque mihrab is inscribed with a  chronogram   (  “Chronogram” meant “time writing”. For example, the word ‘scatterer’ is year 1492 the year in which Jews were expelled from Spain. Rajah Makhan’s Chronogram, ‘Dhikrullahi Akbar’ (Remembrance of God is great) gives us the year of construction as 1209 Hijri which translates to 1794 CE. Taken from Mr Venkararangan's post.  Thanks for the information sir).  This contains the numerical value  assigned to each letter in the text when added gives the year of the event. This verse was selected after a competition and composed by a Hindu Rajah Makhan Lal Hirat. It was told that Sindhi community is allowed to  serve “nonbu kanchi” during Ramzan fasting period  at the mosque. Wallajah also donated to Hindu and Christian temples. Mr Anwar pointed out that the Kapaleeswarar temple Tank / pond was gifted by Wallajah. 

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

On the right is the Dargah of Bahrul Uloom  a great scholar. Wallajah invited him to teach in his madrasa which is adjacent to the mosque. When he arrived to Madras, Wallajah personally carried the palanquin which carried Bahrul Uloom in to the Mosque. Many Wallajah family members are laid to rest in this Dargah.

On the left side of the open ground there is white building, which was the “Ottoman Empire’s Consulate". As a consul of Turkey Mohamed Badsha Sahib started a business on Triplicane High road in 1812AD. When he was on tour in west Asia during 1866AD, his family sent money   for the Hamede-Hadjaz Railway Project which connects Holy cities of Arabia with Turkey. This Railway line was featured in the film “ Lawrence of Arabia”. 

When we finished our visit of  Wallajah Big mosque, it was around 08.30 hours, so we rushed to Amir Mahal, since as per the schedule we are supposed to be there by 08.00 hrs.  On the way  we peeped in to a mid 18^th century “Majid Anvari” mosque with plain prayer hall & courtyard and an another Mosque of the same period which has a central dome structure adjacent to the previous one.

Majid Anvari

Majid Anvari ( A mosque with dome is another one )

On the way to Amir Mahal, passed through “Khana Bagh Street”. ( Khana in hindi  – song  ). Mr Anvar told that this street was busy with musicians and dancers during Nawabs period. The Hindustani music also flourished  in Triplicane area.

 ….. to be Continued The Arcot Nawabs Trail at Triplicane – A Heritage walk with Kombai Anwar – Part IV ( Amir Mahal ).

Azeempet - The Arcot Nawabs Trail at Triplicane, A Heritage Walk with Kobai Anwar. Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

…a continuation post to The Arcot Nawabs trails at Triplicane. A Heritage walk with Kombai S Anwar - Part - I.

21^st August 2017.

After Khalas Mahal visit, we walked towards the  Wallajah Road entrance ( Pattabhiram Gate ) of M.A.Chidambaram  Stadium. This stadium  was part of the Nawab's Palace once. The gardens residential Quarters for the servants, Horse stable etc was once in this complex. The remains of this is the arch  Gate pillars with terracotta reliefs on the three sides. The reliefs contains the floral arrangement.

Pattabhiram Gate of MAC Stadium- one of the surviving triple arch gate of Khalas Mahal

Our next stop was at another arch way gate Pillar further towards Triplicane High Road. Mr Anwar told that the Nawab’s Palace had tipple arch gate ways and this was one of them. The pillar also has the terracotta reliefs of Hindu god Vishnu’s incarnations. Hope the freedom was given to the contractors to choose their own design and materials for construction

             Vishnu’s incarnation reliefs on the arch gate pillars

On the opposite side of the road there is a white building  called Guest House. It was told that during British  period this building served as a residential quarters for the British soldiers.

Further down the arch Gates we stopped on  Triplicane high Road, junction from where Mr Anvar pointed out a red building which was once a kitchen cum dining for vegetarian food served to the poor prepared by Brahmins, called Langar Khana. Now the Triplicane Police station is functioning in this building.

Langar Khana.( Triplicane Police station is functioning )

Little further on the Triplicane High Road, stopped opposite to an arch on a lane called Appavu Gramani Street squeezed between residential complexes. The name “AZEEMPET” is written on the arch painted with light bluish green. Mr Anwar told that the arch has an interesting story.  

The arch was once the entrance of the palace of Sultanuniss Begum,  sister of the Nawabs Dynasty’s third ruler Umdat-ul-Umra. It was told that she holds the power behind the throne during late 1790s. Both brother and sister wants their sons to succeed to become Nawab of Arcot. Sultanuniss Begum’s dream of her son succeeding was not fulfilled. So she didn’t allowed his brother’s body after his death to cross the arch. The body was kept overnight on the street and the wall was broken to take out the body next day morning.

On the opposite side of Azeempet Arch, Mr Anvar  pointed out a building called Mohammadian Public library, started during 1819 CE. Still the 167 years old Library is functioning on the first floor. Some of the books were donated by the then Governor of Bengal and Egypt.

…. To be Continued The Arcot Nawabs Trail At Triplicane - A Heritage walk with Kombai S Anwar - Part - III ( Wallajah Big Mosque )