Visiting Jamia Masjid in Srinagar's old city: its history since 1394, the 378 deodar pillars, how to reach Nowhatta, dress and etiquette, the best time to go, what to see nearby, and how it compares with Khanqah-e-Moula.
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In This Article
- Jamia Masjid Srinagar at a glance
- What is the history of Jamia Masjid Srinagar?
- What should you look at inside?
- How should visitors dress and behave?
- Jamia Masjid vs Khanqah-e-Moula: which should you see?
- What else is near Jamia Masjid?
- How do you get to Jamia Masjid from Dal Lake?
- Frequently asked questions
Quick Answer: Jamia Masjid Srinagar is the old city's great mosque at Nowhatta, first completed in 1402 under Sultan Sikandar and rebuilt after three fires, with its present form dating from 1672. Its roof rests on 378 deodar wood pillars around a large courtyard. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly, remove shoes and avoid Friday midday.
Last updated: 3 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by locals.
Walk in through the gate at Nowhatta and the noise of the old city drops away. What you notice first is the courtyard, wide and calm, with the water tank at its centre; then the cloisters, where hundreds of tall deodar trunks hold up the roof in long, shadowed rows. Jamia Masjid Srinagar is not a museum. It is a working mosque, the heart of Downtown, and visiting it well means visiting it respectfully.
This guide covers the history, what to look at, how to plan the visit and what is close by. For a full walk through Downtown, see our Srinagar old city walking tour.
Jamia Masjid Srinagar at a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Nowhatta, old city (Downtown), Srinagar |
| Built | Commissioned 1394, completed 1402 under Sultan Sikandar; present form from 1672 |
| Best time to visit | Mid-morning on a weekday, outside prayer times; avoid Friday midday |
| Getting there | About 30 minutes by cab or auto from Dal Gate, depending on traffic; see Srinagar cabs |
| Entry | No ticket; visitors welcome outside prayers |
| Time needed | 45 minutes to 1 hour; a half day with the nearby old city sights |
| Plan with Via Kashmir | Ask for an old city morning in your itinerary |
What is the history of Jamia Masjid Srinagar?
Sultan Sikandar of the Shah Mir dynasty commissioned the mosque in 1394, and it was completed in 1402. Built largely of timber, it burnt three times: first in 1479, then twice in the Mughal period. Each time it was rebuilt, and the structure standing today dates from the rebuilding of 1672 under Aurangzeb, with later repairs, including restoration work by INTACH from 2012.
Under Sikh rule the mosque was closed for 24 years from 1819 and reopened in 1843. In the last century it has been central to Kashmir's public life, and it has at times been closed for congregational prayers during periods of restriction. It is managed by the Anjuman-e-Auqaf, whose patron is the Mirwaiz of Kashmir.
What should you look at inside?
- ✓The 378 deodar pillars. Each of the tall pillars around the main prayer halls is a single cedar trunk. The tallest, near the towers, rise about 15 metres. It is one of the largest wooden interiors in South Asia.
- ✓The courtyard. Laid out on a four-part garden plan, about 114 by 113 metres, with a central tank and fountain where worshippers do their ablutions.
- ✓The four towers. Pagoda-like roofed towers rise at the middle of each side, the typical Kashmiri style rather than minarets.
- ✓The brick arcades. Pointed arches in plain brick run around the courtyard, simple and very calm in the morning light.
- ✓The view of Hari Parbat. From the courtyard you can see the fort on the hill to the north; see our Hari Parbat guide.
A sentence locals use to describe it: Jamia Masjid is built like a forest, and you feel it the moment you walk between the pillars. It can hold 33,333 worshippers at once, and many more spill into the lanes on the biggest occasions.
How should visitors dress and behave?
- Dress modestly: long trousers or skirt, covered shoulders and arms. Women should carry a scarf to cover their hair.
- Remove your shoes before stepping onto the prayer areas, and carry them or leave them at the racks.
- Visit outside the five daily prayers, and avoid Friday from late morning to early afternoon, when the courtyard is full.
- Keep your voice low and do not walk in front of anyone who is praying.
- Photograph the architecture freely in the courtyard, but ask before photographing people.
- Women may visit; follow any guidance from the caretakers about which areas to use.
Local tip: go mid-morning on a weekday, then walk to the old city bakeries for a fresh girda and a cup of noon chai. In winter, the courtyard under snow is one of the most beautiful sights in Srinagar.
Related reading: Driving in Kashmir in Snow: Roads, Chains, 4x4s and When to Stop
Jamia Masjid vs Khanqah-e-Moula: which should you see?
| Jamia Masjid | Khanqah-e-Moula | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Large walled courtyard at Nowhatta | On the bank of the Jhelum at Fateh Kadal |
| Built | From 1394, present form 1672 | Late 14th century, rebuilt in later centuries |
| Architecture | Brick and deodar, 378 pillars, four roofed towers | Wooden building with richly painted papier-mache interior |
| Feel | Vast, open, quiet | Intricate, ornate, intimate |
| Visitor time | 45 to 60 minutes | 20 to 30 minutes |
If you have time for only one, choose Jamia Masjid for scale and calm. If you have a morning, see both: they are about 2 km apart, and together they show the best of Kashmir's wooden religious architecture.
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What else is near Jamia Masjid?
- ✓Zaina Kadal copper market, where samovars and engraved copperware are still made and sold; see our copper craft guide.
- ✓Tomb of Budshah (the mother of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin), a brick tomb with domes near Zaina Kadal.
- ✓Khanqah-e-Moula on the Jhelum.
- ✓Hari Parbat and the Makhdoom Sahib shrine on its slopes.
- ✓Old city bakeries and the harissa shops in winter mornings; see our harissa guide.
For a wider list, see things to do in Srinagar.
How do you get to Jamia Masjid from Dal Lake?
Jamia Masjid is in Nowhatta, in the old city, roughly 30 minutes by road from Dal Gate and the Boulevard depending on traffic. Cabs and autos go to the gate; the lanes around it are narrow and busy, so a driver who knows Downtown helps. Many visitors combine it with Hari Parbat and the copper market in one morning.
Want a calm, well-planned old city morning? We arrange the driver and the route.
Plan my Srinagar day →Via Kashmir builds the old city into Srinagar itineraries with a local driver, then plans the rest of the trip, from verified hotels and houseboats on Dal and Nigeen to complete Kashmir packages. Tell us your dates and we will fit Jamia Masjid around prayer times.
Frequently asked questions
Can tourists visit Jamia Masjid Srinagar?
Yes. Visitors of all faiths are welcome outside prayer times. Dress modestly, remove your shoes before the prayer areas and keep your voice low.
What is the best time to visit Jamia Masjid?
Mid-morning on a weekday is best, between prayers. Avoid Friday from late morning to early afternoon, when the mosque is full for the main congregational prayer.
How many pillars does Jamia Masjid Srinagar have?
It has 378 wooden pillars, each made from a single deodar trunk. The tallest, near the four towers, rise about 15 metres.
Who built Jamia Masjid Srinagar?
Sultan Sikandar commissioned it in 1394 and it was completed in 1402. After three fires, the present structure dates from the rebuilding of 1672 under Aurangzeb.
Is there an entry fee for Jamia Masjid?
No ticket is charged. Visitors simply walk in through the gates outside prayer times. Donations are voluntary.
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