Masjid Chiran Palace, a design ahead of its time
This building has no support and the roof is suspended.
The Masjid Chiran Palace is in the middle of the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park and is nestled amidst trees.
Yet, it is different, probably because it is like being in a mini-forest, with tiny birds whizzing past, peacocks screeching and dragon flies lazily shimmering over the murky waters of the fountain, where huge fish swim in great companionship.
This mosque is of a very different design. Apparently Mukarram Jah, grandson of the seventh Nizam, wanted to break away from tradition, especially when it came to design.
The cost of building this mosque came from the sale of brass utensils stored at King Koti palace and hence this mosque has another name, the Tamba Masjid. Not a touch of metal here, though. This masjid won the Intach award in 2012. Hyderabad state had a bold new generation of architects. One of the more prolific among them was Eric Marrott and he ran The Studio.
Marrott was chosen to execute the dream of the Nizam to “give a new dimension to religious architecture of the city.” It was a complete break away from tradition when Marrott created a structure which was all modern with new methods and materials, yet managing to interpret the basic tenets of Islam through his architecture.
The first impression is that this building has no support and that the roof is suspended. That could have been true because earlier it was open on the sides. Many devotees did not come here to worship, not much caring for the modern design.
It was literally public opinion which forced the Nizam to add side walls, but even this has been done delicately. The side walls are jalis, intricately carved and designed marble screens, allowing ventilation and light. They contain geometric designs which look like blossoming flowers. These designs are repeated at the ground level, where the entrance is covered with a small barricade, adding a little design to the otherwise blank entrance.
There is a fountain right in the front of the masjid, probably used for ablutions earlier on. The water is now green, and you can see an abundance of fish.
The wazookhana or ablution place is on the side of the masjid, with granite stools in front of each tap.
Two graceful structures rise from the end of the fountain, representing the minarets of a mosque. There are spouts attached to the structure from where water used to fall in the centre with a tinkling sound, adding to the ambience of the place. The inside of the roof is beautifully designed, with interlacing beams, giving it a unique pattern. Even now, you realise that the roof does not rest on any wall or pillars in the centre. The load is taken by the arches from the ground level, both in the front and the back.
