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The tall wooden Khanqah-e-Moula with its carved balconies and a spired pagoda roof against the sky
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Photo: Varun Shiv Kapur from New Delhi, India · CC BY 2.0
temple5 min from Srinagar

Khanqah-e-Moula — the wooden shrine of Shah-e-Hamadan on the Jhelum

The Khanqah-e-Moula, or Shah-e-Hamadan Mosque, on the Jhelum in Srinagar: built in 1395, a showpiece of Kashmiri timber building with papier-mâché decoration.

What it is

The Khanqah-e-Moula, also called the Shah-e-Hamadan Masjid, stands on the right bank of the Jhelum in the old city of Srinagar, between two old bridges, Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal. Sultan Sikandar had it built in 1395 in memory of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, the preacher who came from Hamadan in Persia. Wikipedia calls it the valley's first khanqah, a mosque tied to one saint.

Photos: Srvterp (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

The building

It ranks among the finest examples of Kashmiri timber building, with carved balconies, a pagoda-like roof and a spire, and papier-mâché decoration inside. It burned in 1480 and again in 1731 and was rebuilt each time; a fire in November 2017 damaged the spire, which was restored with a new crown in March 2018.

Visiting

By road it is about 5 minutes and 2.9 km from the centre on our routing. It is a working place of worship, so ask locally about visiting, dress modestly and remove your shoes.

Combine it with

The Jama Masjid is close, and Hari Parbat Fort overlooks the district. The two-day plan takes them together; read things to do in Srinagar.

Plans that include this

All 1 plans that stop here →
The tall wooden Khanqah-e-Moula with its carved balconies and a spired pagoda roof against the sky
Two days in Srinagar — the old city's shrines, then the lake and gardens
1 night · 2 days · culture · Temples & heritage
A two-day Srinagar plan: the Khanqah-e-Moula, Jama Masjid, Hari Parbat and Shankaracharya Temple, then Hazratbal, Shalimar, Nishat and Dal Lake. Free to copy.
Best Apr–May · Sep–Oct
See the plan →

Nearby places

All of Srinagar →
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
temple · 882 m away
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
fort · 1.8 km away
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
temple · 3.6 km away
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
lake · 4.4 km away
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
temple · 5.2 km away
Pari Mahal — the terraced garden of fairies above Dal Lake
Pari Mahal — the terraced garden of fairies above Dal Lake
monument · 6.5 km away
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden
park · 6.8 km away
Chashme Shahi — the royal spring garden above Dal Lake
Chashme Shahi — the royal spring garden above Dal Lake
monument · 7.3 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Dalhousie hill station across its five hills
Dalhousie
204 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
Chamba town on the bank of the Ravi, seen from the hillside above
Chamba
210 km away · 3 itineraries · 5 places
The stone tower of the Narasimha temple at Bharmour with a green mountain behind it under a blue sky
Bharmour
244 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Namgyal Monastery, the Dalai Lama's temple complex in McLeod Ganj
Dharamshala
252 km away · 5 itineraries · 15 places
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Questions people ask

What is the Khanqah-e-Moula?

A mosque on the right bank of the Jhelum in the old city, between two old bridges, Fateh Kadal and Zaina Kadal, built in 1395 in memory of the preacher Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. Wikipedia calls it the Kashmir Valley's first khanqah and counts it among the finest examples of Kashmiri timber building, decorated with papier-mâché.

Has it been damaged?

Yes. Fires destroyed it in 1480 and in 1731 and each time it was rebuilt, and another fire in November 2017 damaged the spire, which was restored with a new crown in March 2018. It is a centrally protected Monument of National Importance. Ask locally about visiting, as access and dress rules vary with prayer times.

How far is it from the centre of Srinagar?

About 5 minutes and 2.9 km by road on our routing. The Pathar Masjid, the stone mosque of 1623, stands on the opposite bank, and the Jamia Masjid is a short distance away. We have no verified opening hours, so ask locally, and remember that it is a working place of worship.