Mishkal Mosque

Mishkāl Mosque
Mishkāl Palli
View of Mishkāl Mosque from one of its entrances
Location in present-day Kerala
Basic information
Location	Kuttichira, Calicut, present-day India
Geographic coordinates	11°15′N 75°46′E / 11.25°N 75.77°E / 11.25; 75.77Coordinates: 11°15′N 75°46′E / 11.25°N 75.77°E / 11.25; 75.77
Affiliation	Islam
Branch/tradition	Islam (Sunni - Šāfiʿī)
Architectural description
Architectural type	Mosque
Architectural style	Regional (Kerala)
Date established	14th century (present structure)
Specifications
Dome(s)	0
Minaret(s)	0

Mishkal Mosque (Malayalam: മിശ്കാൽ പള്ളി) is a medieval mosque located in Calicut in the Indian state of Kerala. The mosque, one of the oldest in Malabar, is an important cultural, historical and architectural monument in Kerala.

The mosque was built by a rich Arab merchant, Nakhooda Mishkal, in the 14th century. It is named "Mishkal Mosque" after him.^[1]

Location

Mishkal Mosque is located in Kuttichira, a part of Thekkepuram beach in Calicut.

Another view of the mosque

History

In 1510, the mosque was partially burned in a Portuguese attack. The top floors of the mosque still display some of that damage.^[1][2] Mishkal Mosque originally had five stories. It was reconstructed after the fire in 1510 and now has four stories.^[1] Typical for similarly aged mosques in Malabar, it has no cupolas and minarets and heavily employs timber.

Majestic Structure

This entirely wooden mosque is simply breathtaking to see especially from the other side of the tank. The big Kuttichira tank is attached to the mosque. The mosque has 47 doors, 24 carved pillars and a big prayer hall that can accommodate 400 people. Copulas and minarets seems to be absent because the mosque built like a temple. The prayer hall is well ventilated and there is a wooden mimbar with beautiful motifs.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mishkal Mosque.

• Muslim Architecture of South India (Mehrdad Shokoohy) Routledge, 2011