Have you ever been to a place that is horrible and beautiful at the same time? Yes, Khirki Masjid Delhi is one of those places.
You know, whenever I visited other historical places like Purana Qila, Chandni Chowk, Bhangarh Fort, Shaniwar Wada, etc., I always felt very proud.
I remember I visited the Adalaj Stepwell in Gujarat, and I felt like I knew the queen back in the days when I used to accompany her when she took her bath in that well. Looking at the dark green water and the depth of the wall, I knew some greater mysteries were there.
So, what I want to say is that the experience was never a negative one; it does not matter if the place is a century old, it is still well-maintained, and the smell of nostalgia and grace is there.
But when I visited Khirki Masjid, It was a different thing altogether. In this blog, I will not tell you only about the Khirki Masjid but also about the Khirki village as well.
Though at first, I was terrified, which was obviously expected, the latter part was bliss.
The History of Khirki Village
Khirki village was built by Khan-i-Jahaan Junaan Telangani and Feroz Shah Tugluq. Both were mad about architecture, and the only thing that they wanted to do was just build greater architectural pieces, one of them being Khirki Masjid.
Once you visit the Masjid, You’ll see various inscriptions on the walls, but the saddest part is that no date is mentioned. According to experts, the time it was built was around 1351-1354.
Khirki Masjid was not only a Delhi Sultanate symbol but also a saviour to the victims of the partition of 1947.
It was the time when thousands of people were coming from the parts of Punjab which are now in Pakistan. The Mosque was used as a refugee camp.
But the government at that time didn’t approve it, and they didn’t want a Masjid to be a refugee camp. The Hindus who were living there came forward to protect the mosque. Isn’t it amazing?
I never knew that. I’m feeling more proud of my country than before.
The Sad Part
The sad part is that no prayers are being held in this village now. People are using it to indulge in intoxicating activities, which is disrespectful to history. I think the government should take a step to restore the Masjid and celebrate its glory.
Ending Words
You know this is the beauty of travelling to historical places. You might discover something that the historian couldn’t. You can never read these things in any history book. I was reading a blog, and that blogger found out about all of these through a local man who was a teacher.
A tour guide will not tell you this unknown story. So, if you are also thinking of visiting Khirki Masjid Delhi, keep the tour guide out. Who knows? You might discover something new.