Hazratbal Mosque

As the name suggests Hazratbal Mosque is one of the holiest places to visit in Srinagar. Located on the bank of the famous Dal Lake, the mosque holds the relics of Prophet Muhammad. Made up of white marble, it is a perfect fusion of Mughal and Kashmiri styles of architecture. Further, the Mosque offers a spectacular view of the lake and a huge mountain which is located in the backdrop.

About its brief history:

Hazratbal Shrine was initially established by Inayat Begum, the daughter of Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Eshai and the custodian of the holy relic. The building was ordered to be converted into a prayer hall in 1634 by Shah Jahan. Construction of the present day structure was started in 1968 and took 11 years to complete, finishing in 1979.

The shrine contains a piece of the hair of the prophet Muhammad. The relic was first brought to Kashmir by Syed Abdullah Madani, a descendant of Muhammad who left Madina and settled in the city of Bijapur in 1635, at a time when the Mughal Empire was rapidly expanding across India.

Following Abdullah's death, his son Syed Hameed inherited the relic. Finding himself unable to care for the relic, he passed it to Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Eshai, a wealthy Kashmiri businessman.