400-year-old mosque in India faces ruin amid calls for restoration
Historic Shaikpet Mosque in Hyderabad, near Golconda Fort, seeks urgent conservation and reopening for worship
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) – Calls are growing for the restoration and reopening of the 400-year-old Shaikpet Mosque, a historic site in southern India that has suffered decades of neglect.
Located near the famous Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, the mosque is classified as a Protected Monument by the Telangana government’s Department of Archaeology and Heritage.
However, despite multiple appeals, authorities have yet to take concrete steps toward its preservation.
Senior Congress leader Faheem Qureshi has urged Telangana’s Tourism and Archaeology Minister, Jupally Krishna Rao, to intervene immediately, stressing that reopening the mosque for worship could help safeguard its long-term survival.
Years of abandonment have left the mosque in a deteriorating state. Heavy rains caused a pillar to collapse a few years ago, and unchecked structural damage continues to threaten the building. The situation has been worsened by garbage dumping near the site, raising concerns over its historical dignity.
“The mosque is falling apart. Its proximity to Golconda Fort makes it a potential tourist attraction, but its current state is alarming,” Qureshi told News Meter.
Experts warn that the mosque’s Indo-Iranian Qutb Shahi architectural heritage could be lost if restoration efforts are not handled meticulously. Dr. Haseeb Jafferi, a cultural curator at SufiTrails, stressed the importance of expert-led conservation rather than superficial repairs.
“The Aga Khan Foundation has studied similar tile samples and restorations from this era. Their expertise could be invaluable in maintaining historical accuracy,” he noted.
Historians argue that if restored properly, the mosque could rank among Hyderabad’s most stunning monuments. The original turquoise blue-green pillars, still faintly visible in the remaining tiles, could be revived to resemble historic mosques in Isfahan, Iran.
“If the conservation follows authentic methods, the mosque could stand alongside Hyderabad’s finest monuments, much like the recently restored green-glazed dome of Mohammed Qutb Shah’s tomb,” Dr. Jafferi added.
Despite ongoing demands, officials have yet to commit to restoration efforts. Meanwhile, local Muslim communities continue to press for access, believing that reopening the mosque for prayer is key to ensuring its long-term preservation.
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