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One of the oldest and largest mosques in India, the Makkah Masjid is an old heritage structure located in the Indian city Hyderabad. Built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, during the tenure of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty, the structure involved the hard work of around 8000 workers who were appointed to construct the structure, the foundation stone of which was laid by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah himself. The completion of the mosque, however, was done by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, after he successfully conquered the city of Hyderabad.
There are three facades in arched shapes in the structure and all of this is said to have been carved out of one piece of granite, which involved an investment of five years.
The main hall of the mosque is as high as 75 feet, and 220 feet wide, capable to accommodate around 10,000 devotees at one time. Right at the entrance of the building lies a courtyard that consists of marbles graves of the Asaf Jahi rulers. The structure also consists of a number of minarets and domes, carved beautifully with authentic Islamic architecture.
There’s also a legend associated with this place, which says that whenever anyone sits on the slab or bench near the pond located close to the mosque, the person comes back to again sit on it someday.