Jamia Masjid is the great congregational mosque of Srinagar's old city, founded in 1394 by Sultan Sikandar at the urging of Mir Mohammad Hamdani. Its prayer halls stand on rows of deodar pillars around an open courtyard, and thousands gather here for Friday prayers. Construction took about eight years, and the mosque has been rebuilt after fire more than once.
This guide is published by Duke Kashmir Travels, a Srinagar agency registered as JKTA00003978 with the J&K Department of Tourism since 2011. The mosque anchors our old-city walk; Kashmir packages open at about ₹6,350 per person, two to a room.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- Founded 1394 by Sultan Sikandar; roughly eight years in the building.
- Sits in Nowhatta, at the heart of Shahr-i-Khaas.
- Four turrets, an open courtyard, lawns on all four sides and an ablution tank with a fountain.
- Indo-Saracenic in style, with a pillared hall of deodar trunks.
- Managed by the Anjuman-e-Awqaf board.
- Fridays fill the courtyard; other days it is calm enough to walk around.
Who built Jamia Masjid, and when?
Sultan Sikandar founded it in 1394 CE at the urging of Mir Mohammad Hamdani, and the work took about eight years.
Later rulers repaired and extended it after fires, so what stands today is the product of several centuries rather than one build. The mosque has been the centre of religious life in the old city throughout that time.
What is the building like inside?
A square courtyard open to the sky, lawns quartered by paths, an ablution tank with a fountain at the centre, and prayer halls on four sides carried by rows of deodar pillars.
The southern entrance opens through a recessed atrium into the courtyard. The pillars are single deodar trunks, and the effect inside the hall is closer to a forest than a vaulted mosque. The style is Indo-Saracenic, with wooden Kashmiri detailing.
When can visitors go?
Outside prayer times on any day except Friday, when the congregation fills the whole courtyard.
Dress modestly, cover the head where asked and remove shoes at the hall. Visitors of any faith may look around the courtyard; be discreet with cameras when people are praying.
What is around the mosque?
The old city itself: bakeries, copper workshops, shawl merchants and the shrines of Nowhatta and Khanyar within a short walk.
Dastageer Sahib, Khanqah-e-Moula and Badamwari are all close. This is the part of Srinagar best seen on foot with someone who knows the lanes.
How do you reach Jamia Masjid?
Nowhatta is about 4 km from Lal Chowk; taxis take fifteen to twenty minutes depending on the old-city traffic.
Our vehicles drop guests at the gate and pick them up after the walk, since the lanes around the mosque are narrow. The wider Srinagar list and Kashmir tour ideas show how the old city fits into a full day.
Booking this with us
Duke Kashmir Travels has held Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since March 2011 and has been an IATO allied member since 2016. The full list of registrations sits on our About Us page.
Send your dates and traveller count and we will build the itinerary around it. Call +91 9018 44 0000, email info@dukekashmirtravels.com or use the contact page.
About the founder
Rayies Ahmad Zargar founded Duke Kashmir Travels in Srinagar in 2011 and still runs it. He co-founded the JK Tourism Council and reviews the guides published here, including this one. Profile on LinkedIn.