Wazir Khan Mosque

Courtyard of Wazir Khan mosque and Main prayer Hall

The Wazir Khan Mosque is a Mughal-era religious and architectural monument located in the Walled City of Lahore. Built during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, the mosque reflects the Persian-Mughal architectural style and is widely regarded for its sophisticated craftsmanship and ornamentation. The overall structure, decoration, and spatial layout of the mosque serve as a significant representation of the Mughal period’s architectural excellence.
The mosque is laid out in a rectangular plan, with overall dimensions measuring approximately 280 feet by 160 feet. It is constructed on a raised plinth, with steps leading to its entrance. The entrance lies on the eastern side, in line with the typical orientation of South Asian mosques, where the western wall faces the qibla. The mosque is primarily built of brick and finished with smooth plaster. The external walls were painted red using the true fresco technique, with a carved brick pattern applied to imitate the appearance of real bricks.

The mosque showcases a wide range of decorative techniques developed and refined under Mughal patronage. These include tazakari, which refers to brick imitation work; multi-coloured Kashi Kari tile work; naqashi or fresco painting; and ornamental calligraphy. The tile work in particular is executed using the mosaic technique, in which individual coloured tile pieces are cut into precise shapes and embedded into mortar. This method differs from the painted tile technique, where tiles are painted and baked in predetermined forms before being assembled onsite. The fresco painting used throughout the mosque is of the Buono type, as noted by IH Nadeem. In this technique, paint is applied to fresh plaster, allowing it to be absorbed deeply into the material, becoming an integral and long-lasting part of the wall surface.
The entrance to the mosque is marked by a grand pishtaq and arched iwan, characteristic features of Timurid architecture that were later adapted by the Mughals. The gateway is elaborately decorated with Kashi Kari, arabesques, floral and geometric patterns, and intricate calligraphy.

Fresco work in Wazir Khan Mosque

Entrance Gateway of Wazir Khan Mosque

An inscription on the gateway features the Kalma along with the Hijri date of the mosque’s completion. Above the main entrance, the inscription reads, “The noblest of the recitals is: There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet of God.” To the right of the Kalma is a smaller inscription that states, “Constructed during the reign of the valiant king, the lord of constellation, Shah Jahan.” Below this, another inscription acknowledges the founder with the words, “The founder of this house of God is the humblest of old and faithful servants, Wazir Khan.”
The gateway leads into a domed entrance hall, flanked on both sides at an upper level by projecting jharokas. The entrance opens into a large central courtyard, the focal space of the mosque. At the center of the courtyard lies a large pond used for ablution or wuzu. Each of the four corners of the courtyard is anchored by a tall minaret. These minarets are intricately ornamented and are crowned with chatris—domed kiosks in the form of small pavilions. The minarets are structured in three vertical segments. The lowest segment or base is square-shaped and includes proportionally distributed niches on each face. Above this, the middle section transitions into an octagonal shaft. The upper portion of this shaft is divided into sixteen decorated panels, many of which feature tree motifs. At the junction between the shaft and the chatri is a pendentive structure known as alub kari. Internal staircases within the minarets provide access to the top, from where one can observe a panoramic view of the Walled City of Lahore.
The main prayer hall is situated on the western side of the courtyard. It features a central pishtaq with an arched entrance that is flanked by two smaller arches on each side. The façade of the prayer hall is capped with a continuous mudakhal pattern forming a decorative parapet. The hall is topped with five domes that correspond with the five arches of the façade. Among these, the central dome is slightly elevated above the flanking domes. The architectural design employs the four-centered flat pointed arches that were commonly favored in Mughal construction, offering a subtler and flatter profile compared to the sharp two-centered arches characteristic of Gothic styles. The spandrels of these arches are elaborately adorned with decorative detailing.
Inside, the prayer hall is richly embellished with fresco painting that extends the mosque’s tradition of intricate interior design. The flooring has been artistically paved with geometric patterns that contribute to the overall visual harmony of the space.
Along the enclosure walls are rows of hujras or cells that historically served as spaces for the practice of artistic trades and as rooms for madrassa-based religious instruction. The western section of the mosque also includes a number of shops that have since been restored and repurposed for various contemporary uses.
John Lockwood Kipling, who served as the Principal of the Mayo School of Arts (now the National College of Arts) and Curator of the Lahore Museum, once remarked on the artistic value of the mosque by stating, “This beautiful building is in itself a school of design.” His observation underscores the mosque’s historical role as both a spiritual sanctuary and a vibrant center of artistic heritage.

Facade of Main prayer Hall, Wazir Khan Mosque