Moti Masjid - The Pearl Mosque Of Agra

Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque was built by the emperor who built Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan. The mosque as it shined like a pearl got the popular name of Moti Masjid.The mosque was built by Shahjahan for his members of the royal court. Moti Masjid, the mosque, is contained in the Agra Fort Complex. The complex situated in the vicinity of Yamuna river is one of the most frequently visited places. Situated towards the east of the city center the place is easily accessible.

The three marble domes of the mosque rest over the red sandstone walls and seen in totality the structure is inviting. The structure is built taking a good care of its symmetry. It is grounded to the right of the structure hall Diwan-E-Aam of the Agra Fort. The main entrance to the mosque is on the eastern side and thus, it is much larger and more beautiful than the subsidiary gates on the southern and the northern sides that had arches and three square chhatris
crowning them.

The main gateways are approachable by two staircases and had a red sandstone exterior and a marble interior. The prayer chamber has an arcade of seven arches. Out of its twenty-one bays, only three have vaulted soffits. Its western wall has beautifully carved and inlaid mihrab and six niches corresponding to the arches of the façade. Unlike the usual three steps, there are four steps to the pulpit. There are prayer chambers for women on either side of the main prayer chamber that had a marble latticework screen separating them from the main hall. This chamber has three bulbous domes crowning it. There are seven beautiful square chhatris above the parapet and an octagonal tower with a marble cupola on top at each corner.