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Jami
Masjid,
Champaner
A
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site
“Jami
Masjid,
also
known
as
Jama
Masjid
in
Champaner,
is
a
part
of
the
Champaner-Pavagadh
Archaeological
Park.
The
historical
city
of
Champaner
was
founded
in
the
8th
century
by
Vanraj
Chavda,
the
most
prominent
king
of
the
Chavda
Dynasty.
A
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site,
it
is
amongst
the
114
monuments
the
Baroda
Heritage
Trust
listed.
The
Jami
Masjid
is
located
about
150
feet
east
of
the
city
walls
near
the
eastern
gate.
It
is
considered
one
of
the
finest
mosques
in
western
India
with
its
elegant
interiors.
The
ornamentation
on
the
facade
of
mosques
and
tombs
consists
of
symbols
and
motifs
of
the
sun,
diamond,
pots,
vines
and
lotus
insignia,
which
were
used
in
the
earlier
temples.
The
craftsman
had
imbibed
their
craft
from
their
forefathers,
who
passed
on
the
knowledge
of
Hindu,
Muslim
and
Jain
motifs.
Mahmud
Begarha,
born
Fath
Khan
Mahmud
(1445-1511),
was
among
the
most
capable
Sultans
of
Gujarat.
In
his
long
and
prosperous
reign
(1458
onward),
he
expanded
the
borders
of
his
domains,
clashed
successfully
with
the
Portuguese,
routed
Malabar
pirates,
and
established
a
new
capital
city
at
Champaner.
Although
his
achievements
laid
a
firm
foundation
for
future
rulers
to
build
upon,
his
successors
were
not
as
capable.
A
mere
24
years
after
Mahmud
Bergarha's
death,
the
realm
was
annexed
by
Humayan
of
the
newly-rising
Mughal
dynasty
and
lost
any
semblance
of
independence.
In
1484,
when
the
Sultan
defeated
Chauhan
Rajputs
and
occupied
the
site
of
Champaner,
all
that
lay
in
the
future.
For
the
next
23
years,
Bergarha
spent
untold
resources
rebuilding
Champaner
as
a
worthy
capital
of
his
domains,
renaming
it
Muhammadabad.
To
those
ends,
he
established
heavily
fortified
walls
enclosing
palaces,
mosques,
gardens,
tombs,
and
military
garrisons.
Although
it
was
partly
intended
as
a
refuge
for
the
Sultan
in
times
of
war,
the
city
was
not
as
strong
as
it
appeared.
When
Humayan,
the
young
emperor
of
the
Mughals,
laid
siege
to
the
city
in
1535,
his
scouts
were
able
to
discover
a
deserted
section
of
fortifications,
allowing
his
soldiers
to
enter
covertly.
His
forces
then
ransacked
the
city.
Following
his
victory,
the
surviving
population
fled
into
the
countryside,
abandoning
its
buildings
and
surrounding
fields.
When
a
British
surveying
crew
entered
the
ruins
of
Champaner
in
1803,
they
found
only
500
inhabitants
in
a
city
built
for
tens
of
thousands.
The
mosque
is
located
a
mere
40
meters
inside
the
city's
east
gate.
It
is
oriented
almost
precisely
east-west,
with
the
qibla
wall
canted
off-axis
slightly
to
Mecca
(although
close
enough
to
satisfy
liturgical
requirements).
It
comprises
a
rectangular
main
building
facing
a
large
courtyard
surrounded
by
arcades.
The
front
(east)
facade
is
decorated
with
twin
minarets,
36
meters
high,
flanking
a
central
iwan
with
a
five-meter
wide
opening.
The
octagonal
minarets
are
deeply
incised
with
horizontal
moldings
and
small
vertical
niches
infused
with
floral
patterns.
To
either
side
of
the
minarets
are
flanking
oriel
windows
supported
by
S-shaped
Hindu-style
brackets.
The
remainder
of
the
building,
extending
to
the
north
and
south,
includes
two
arches
on
each
side,
such
that
the
whole
ensemble
reads
as
a
five-part
facade.
Finally,
anchoring
the
corners
of
the
monument
are
cylindrical
guldastas
(corner
turrets)
topped
by
conical
roofs.
Inside,
the
overall
floor
area
measures
66
x
27
meters,
about
three-quarters
the
size
of
its
antecedent
in
Ahmedabad.
As
is
typical
of
congregational
mosques
the
world
over,
the
vast
space
is
supported
by
columns,
numbering
here
176
in
all.
As
the
central
mihrab
can
not
be
seen
from
all
angles
within
the
building
(due
to
the
presence
of
the
columns),
six
additional
mihrabs
are
placed
on
the
qibla
wall
for
the
benefit
of
worshippers,
three
to
each
side.
Short
turrets
on
the
outside
of
the
west
wall
mark
the
location
of
each
mihrab
from
the
exterior.
