Ahmedabad is the city created by Muslim Ruler Ahmed Shah. During his reign many Islamic monuments had been built influenced by Islamic architecture in the city. One such monument is Jama Masjid. It is a Mosque and the meaning of Jama Masjid is Friday Mosque. This historic Islamic building is the oldest one in the city built dates back in fifteenth century around 1424 when Ahmed Shah was ruling the place. The Jama Masjid is located in the old part of city at the eastern side of famous Teen Darwaja. It is just opposite to the Mahatma Gandhi Road. This splendid structure known for Muslim religious place is said to be the largest mosque in Indian Subcontinent at that time. At the west side of the Mosque you can notice three tombs. These tombs are of Sultan Ahmed Shah I, his son Mohammad Shah and his grandson Ahmed Shah Rauza. The tombs of the queen and other wives of emperor (Rani Ka hazira) are also lying nearby.Yellow sandstone is used to create this monument. There is a large rectangular courtyard which is 75m in length and 66m in width. There are three entrances to enter the mosque. You can find the entrances at the centre of all three sides. There are rows of pillars in the courtyard all three sides while the fourth side which is the east side has the big prayer hall. A rectangular basin is also installed at the centre of the courtyard. I guess rectangular is the basic shape used everywhere while creating this building. As when you enter the prayer room you find it rectangular as well. This room has four domes. While observing the style of architecture and carvings on the stone you get a feeling that it is not purely Islamic architecture, it must be a blend of Islamic – Hindu – Jain architecture because some of the domes are designed in the style which are not expected to be there like they have open lotus flower patterns which is quite common in the domes of Jain Temples. In another example some pillars have carving displaying bells hanging on a chain which is always seen in all Hindu Temples. The close observation of the interiors gives you proof to believe the assumptions that this monument is created using items which were rescued from the demolished Jain and Hindu temples of that period.When you enter the wide courtyard which is open you see the beautiful Arabic Calligraphy painted on the row of pillars and white marble floor adds the brightness to the ambience. The entire mosque as well as the walk way are built in yellow sandstone and have intricate carvings all over. During the 1918 earthquake two of the main minarets which were standing at the arched entrance way collapsed but the lower parts of these minarets are still standing. There are more than 260 columns in the prayer hall giving support to the roof. The beautifully carved fifteen domes of different heights and the rectangular pillared walkway make the ambiance welcoming with equal light and shade. The prayer wall is very well decorated and you can see a pierced stone wall between two pillars at the central opening. You can see the inauguration date January 4th 1424 by Sultan Ahmed Shah- I is inscribed on the Mihrab. Actually the Jama Masjid was created for only private use by Sultans. The structure is still standing strong and beautiful in spite of rough weather conditions all through the years.Ruchi Mahajan