Zinat-ul-Masajid is one of the largest mosques located in the city of Delhi. It also known as `Ghata Masjid` and has been named after the daughter of Aurangzeb, Zinat-un-Nissa Begum. She was a very pious woman and was also a good Persian poet. She was the Padshah Begum of Aurangzeb`s court for some time. The mosque is located near the Red Fort in Delhi. It was built by her in the year 1707 AD on Khairati Ghat, Ansari Road along the walls of Shahjahanabad in Daryaganj, opposite Shakti Sthal. Zinat-ul-Masajid is a replica of the Jama Masjid. The mosque has been adorned with sky high attractive minarets and Kangura battlements. The mosque can be entered from the southern side while the northern side entrance remains closed. The mosque has been built of red sandstone and has a large courtyard built on a raised platform. There are over 12 basement chambers beneath the courtyard. These are used for several purposes. Zinat-ul-Masjid also houses a tank but presently it is not used anymore. The seven arched prayer hall of the mosque is surmounted by three domes that are adorned with alternative strips of white and black marble and look very graceful. The walls of the mosque have been built of random rubble and dressed stone. The minarets and the floors have been made of red sandstone. There was also a tomb in the courtyard where Zinat-ul-Begum was buried in 1711 AD. However, it was later removed by the British after the 1857 war when they used the mosque for military purposes.
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