India and Islam have a very old company with different religions and ways of life holding waves in our land, lending a nourishing color to our nation. There is a long association of temples and munis in the Indian subcontinent but a deeper look into the architectural outline of the historical land unlocks new panorama of wonder in India. Islam has several worshipping centers or Mosques in India devoted to its greatness. These are also some of the most renowned travel destinations.

The invasion of Mahmud Gauri laid the foundation stone of Islam in India and subsequently the construction of mosques to place. Afterwards, the Sultanates and the royal Mughal emperors founded India the institutionalized Islamic worship. The secular nature of Akbar is unquestionable as he committed his tribute to a classless religious playing field in the shape of the now legendary Ibadat- Khana in India. As a smart reminder of the dissimilarities that India has, one can celebrate the continuity of life by mentioning the Hazrat Kwaja Moinuddin Chisti, a favorite religious place for both Muslims and Hindus. The spiritual Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is the center of Islamic worship in India, which is a witness to the fact that Hinduism is the base of Islam. The legend attached to the strange Jhopda is one of persistent creation leading to the completion of the mosque construction in two and half days. This place is renowned as a favourable tourist destination.

The elegant architectural style of the mosques in India, even if noticeably far eastern, took on subtle Indian nuances, developing into a separate style of its own. The towers of Indian mosques rise high and sustain a belief of equality and justice, and people lift their hands together in a magnificent traditional praise of the Almighty. Extraordinary in overall execution and design, the mosques are differentiated by the utter brilliance of their simplicity and style.

Cheraman Juma Masjid is supposed to be the first Indian mosque built around 629 AD. The Juma prayers initially started at this mosque. It is located in Kerala, in the Methala village of Kodungalloor taluk. The architecture of the mosque is a mixture of Arabian and Keralite art. The brass lamps used in the mosque are generally found in Hindu temples. A very old ceremonial pond is still found there near the mosque. The Bakrid and Ramadan festivals are celebrated with great religious fervour. Jama Masjid is the largest mosque of India situated in Delhi and it is also regarded as final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor. It is also called `Masjid-i-Jahan Numa`, `Jahan` meaning world and `Numa` meaning visible. This mosque is positioned at a distance of about quarter of a mile from the Red Fort. It took six years to complete the construction work of the mosque, completing in 1644. The formation was positioned on a high platform so that its glorious facade would be noticeable from all the neighboring areas. Similar to that of other buildings of Shahjahanabad, this mosque was constructed by red sandstone. There was also an extensive use of white marble, particularly in the three domes and has been inlaid with a band of black color.

A large number of mosques are also located in the southern parts of Indian subcontinent. Islam found itself in the doorstep of change when it entered into South India through the rulers of Deccan and the Bahmanies. Islam mixed with the Dravidians in a strange way to create a new kitsch in method of architecture in Mosques and centers of Islamic worship in the southern parts of India. In the 16th-17th century A.D, Qutb Shahis and Adil Shahis ruled Deccan which had a fair amount of contribution to the formation of Mosques in Southern India and the continuation and propagation of Islam as a religion in Southern India. There are some of the notable mosques and centres of Islamic worship in Goa. Jama Masjid, situated in Goa about 26 kilometers from Margao is having two towers and four minarets, balanced upon two stands, line the entrance. The other one is the renowned Safa Masjid at Ponda. Founded by Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur, this mosque is located close to a masonry tank with chambers decorated with Mehrabi patterns. Id-Ul-Juha and Id-Ul-Fitr are the two festivals celebrated here with lots of pomp and splendor.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid in Delhi is one of the mosques in India where you will find pillars with pre-historic Hindu motifs. The reason behind it is that the pillars were taken away from the twenty seven temples of Qila Rai Pithora, city of Prithviraj Chauhan, the Rajput king. Some of the other major mosques in India are Humayun`s Tomb, Tugluquabad, Sikandra, Bada Imambara, Atala Masjid, Ajmer Sharief, Jumma Masjid, Dargah of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, Kabuli Bagh Mosque, Pathar Masjid, Chota Imambara, Haji Ali Dargah, Lat-ki Masjid, Solah Khamba Masjid, etc

The mosques in India or religious centers of Muslims are not only a place of worship and center of learning, but also masterpieces on stone depicting love and architectural wonder. There are also tombs like that of the Taj Mahal setting an example before us the deepness of undying love and at the same time the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun sets an example of most flawlessly planned octagonal building in Indian Architectural history.