Khanqah-e-Moula is a wooden Sufi shrine of 1395 on the bank of the Jhelum in Srinagar, dedicated to Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, called Shah-e-Hamdan. Sultan Sikandar built it where the saint had preached. It has burned and been rebuilt three times since, and it remains the most striking piece of wooden architecture in the old city.
Duke Kashmir Travels, a Srinagar agency holding Department of Tourism registration JKTA00003978 since 2011, guides the old-city route that takes this shrine in. Kashmir packages open near ₹6,350 per person, two to a room.
By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Published · Updated
Key takeaways
- Built in 1395 CE by Sultan Sikandar, on the Jhelum between Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal.
- Honours Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, credited with the spread of Islam in the valley.
- Timber construction with khatamband ceilings, carved panels and papier-mache work throughout.
- Burned in 1480 and 1731 and rebuilt each time; the spire caught fire again in November 2017.
- The saint's grave and a collection of relics are kept inside.
- Best seen from the river side, where the whole facade is visible.
Who was Shah-e-Hamdan?
Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, a fourteenth-century Sufi from Hamadan in Persia, whose title means the king of Hamadan.
He came to Kashmir with a large following of craftsmen and scholars, and Kashmiris credit him both with the spread of Islam here and with the arrival of the crafts the valley still lives on: shawl weaving, papier-mache, woodwork.
What makes the building remarkable?
It is built almost entirely of timber, without nails in the traditional sections, and every interior surface is worked.
Khatamband ceilings, carved eaves, painted papier-mache panels and hanging lamps make the interior unusually rich. The pyramidal roof and spire above the Jhelum are among the most recognisable silhouettes in Srinagar.
What should visitors know?
Non-Muslim visitors may view the shrine from the outer areas and the riverside; the inner chamber is for worshippers.
Dress modestly, remove shoes where required and avoid prayer times if you want to look at the woodwork properly. Pathar Masjid stands across the river, and Jamia Masjid is a short walk away in Shahr-i-Khaas.
Booking this with us
The agency behind this guide, Duke Kashmir Travels, was registered with the J&K Department of Tourism in March 2011 (JKTA00003978) and joined IATO in 2016. More on the paperwork is on our About Us page.
Tell us when you are travelling and how many of you there are, and a costed itinerary follows. Reach us on +91 9018 44 0000, at info@dukekashmirtravels.com, or through the contact page.
About the founder
The agency was started in Srinagar in 2011 by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who owns it to this day, helped found the JK Tourism Council, and reads every destination guide before it goes up. His LinkedIn profile is here.