Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, is one of India’s oldest mosques and the city’s oldest surviving monument. Its name, meaning “shed of two and a half days,” likely derives from a two-and-a-half-day fair held at the site during the Maratha era in the 18th century, as noted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and historian Har Bilas Sarda.
Alternatively, a local legend suggests it refers to a rapid construction ordered by Muhammad of Ghor, though historical evidence indicates a longer building period.
Originally a Sanskrit college and possibly a Jain or Hindu temple, the site was commissioned by Vigraharaja IV of the Shakambhari Chahamana dynasty before 1153 CE. Jain tradition claims it was a Jain shrine built in 660 CE by Seth Viramdeva Kala to celebrate Panch Kalyanaka. In 1192 CE, after Muhammad of Ghor defeated Prithviraj Chauhan III in the Second Battle of Tarain, he ordered his general Qutb-ud-Din-Aibak to convert the structure into a mosque.
Completed in 1199 CE under the supervision of Abu Bakr of Herat, it was further enhanced by Iltutmish in 1213 CE with a corbelled arch screen, a first in India.
The mosque showcases early Indo-Islamic architecture, blending Indian and Islamic elements. Hindu masons, supervised by Afghan managers, constructed much of the building, retaining intricate Indian features, particularly on the ornate pillars adorned with Hindu and Jain carvings.
The structure includes a vast courtyard, 70 domed pillars, and a central mihrab with inscriptions dated April 1199 CE, marking it as one of India’s oldest mosques, alongside Delhi’s Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.
Used as a mosque until 1947, it is now maintained by the ASI’s Jaipur circle and is open to visitors of all faiths. The site remains a significant example of India’s architectural and cultural synthesis, though it has sparked recent controversies, with some Hindu and Jain groups claiming it as a temple or Sanskrit school, prompting demands for ASI surveys.
Located 500 meters from Ajmer Sharif Dargah and 1.5 km from Ajmer Junction Railway Station, it’s easily accessible and a must-visit for its historical and architectural significance.
