Pathar Masjid, Jammu And Kashmir

The Pathar Masjid is built of red sandstone and is known for its fluted minarets, which are attached to its back wall. The ceiling of the mosque rests on pillars that are decorated with floral designs carved in low relief. The 'qibla' (which points in the direction of Mecca) in the center of the western wall is flanked on either side by two arched niches inscribed with verses from the Quran. Based on the style of architecture, the Masjid appears to have been built in the 17th Century AD.

History

Pathar Masjid was built by Empress Nur Jahan in 1623. Unlike most other places of worship in Kashmir Valley, this mosque was built with grey limestone. Since stone in the local language is known as pathar and mosque is known as a masjid, the edifice so built began to be known as Pathar Masjid.
It is to be remembered that mosques in Kashmir were generally built with wood while most Mughal edifices were built with marble. Perhaps the Queen chose limestone because she realized that in absence of a transport system bringing marble stones from the plains would be an impossible task. Contrarily grey limestone was found locally; besides such stones could be carved and polished easily. Therefore, she decided to build the mosque with limestone.
Now, it is said that Nur Jahan was once asked about the building cost of such a magnificent structure. The Empress did not answer directly. Instead, she pointed to her shoes, which were embossed with expensive jewels, and said, “As much as that”. When this remark reached the religious leaders they found the reference to be sacrilegious and declared the masjid to be unfit for religious activities. Since then, the mosque is lying idle.
However, another version says that the mosque was desecrated because of its architectural style; it followed a distinct Mughal pattern rather than the indigenous Kashmiri style.