The Blog of tahastories1

Sun was lighting up over heads, and we both were walking, using mobile maps and tracking location of destination. We reached somewhere, probably our destination. Yes! Exactly, this was the focal point of our Chiniot Tour.

My eyes rolled around and captured the essence of the moment;

Children, in school uniform, enjoying, playing, and meaningfully spending their break time. Standing outside of Mosque, just standing on the verge to enter, I was thinking of my childhood. You might be thinking that all of sudden...Why I start thinking of childhood? Because i saw school uniforms and non-uniform children. They reminded me of innocence of old days. Well, these thoughts just whiffed away just like one move in the air.

Took off my shoes outside and entered the Masjid. My first gaze delicately embraced the bulbous domes of the Masjid. The same domes, which are witnessing the days and nights, the moon and hot sun from hundreds of years. Color of time is elegantly covering these domes. Rain also showed magic and added to the color of these domes.

My eyes captured each little detail of the surroundings. These eyes documented the type of rock used in construction, elevation level of Masjid, and observed calligraphic details on the walls.

Students came here to offer prayer. It was time of offering Zohar Prayer. We also performed ablution and walked in the main prayer area. We went inside and offered prayer with all others. After that, it was time to explore and observe the beauty of Masjid.

Questions emerged in my mind; One significant question was____

I got an answer. These floral and depictions of fruits are actually linked to the concept of "Heaven -Jannat". It is said that in heaven, there are gardens of fruits, and there is everything.

I laid down to capture some photos of the ceiling. Lying down was necessary because the architecture of the ceiling was appealing and appeasing to architecture-lover. These geometrical patterns and unique styles to other complementary architectural monuments were rolling around in my eyes.

Synchronized supporting pillars and Mughal era inspired arches were adding so much to the beauty of Masjid and to architecture of it. By the way, i forgot to mention the history of this Masjid.

Nawab Saadullah Khan, in 1646 to 1655, built this mosque at the place where he got his education. The stone for construction of this mosque belongs to the same city Chiniot and that stone came from nearby Hill. It was a time period of the Mughal Empire in Subcontinent, which is why Mughal architecture heavily influenced the architecture of Masjid.

I stood around the window of old times when people used to see the market that was just below the Masjid, and one could listen to the life of the outside.

Time is taking away some of its belongings.

Rain,weather and temperature- these all are leaving these scars.

We captured some photos to save as memory(Usual habit of me and may be you also have this habit).

Even when i came out, i was looking at each little detail and floral calligraphy on the walls that was enough to fascinate me.

See you another time, with another travel story.