The , built in 1573, is one of the most famous mosques of Ahmedabad. Known for its intricate jails, the Sidi Sayiad’s Mosque Ahmedabad In India, makes a travel to Ahmedabad a worthwhile endeavor. The Sidi Saiyad Mosque is also one of the holy places in Ahmedabad.
The was built by Sidi Saiyyed, a slave of Sultan Ahmed Shah. The mosque was built in the last year of the Sultanate of Gujarat and is now one of the most famous monuments in Ahmedabad.
The mosque is entirely arched and has ten screen windows (jalis) on the side and rear arches. The twin windows of pierced stone are carved in style of a tree with palm leaves and curved tendrils. These screens are framed in ten semi-circular windows. This mosque is a superb and peerless example of delicate carving that transforms stone into filigree. The beautiful carved stone windows depict the intricate intertwining of the branches of a tree. This intricately carved stone window is called the Sidi Saiyyed Jali. Wooden models of these windows, which are a fine example of Indo-Sarcenic architecture, are kept in the New York and Kensington museums.
The rear wall of the Sidi Sayiad’s Mosque Ahmedabad is filled with square stone pierced panels in geometrical designs. The two bays flanking the central aisle have reticulated stone slabs carved again in designs of intertwined trees and foliage of the Kalpa tree, a Hindu motif; a palm and parasite motif. This mosque was once part of the city wall, and is now close to the river end of Relief Rd.
Though, the entire mosque is having a very small area, and there is nothing extraordinary in this mosque, the tourists come here only to view the finest art work of this Sidi Saiyad Jali. The State government as well as the central Government of India has designated this jali as one of the national monument of friendship and love. Hence, whenever any guest, invited by the government arrives to see this art work, they are presented with the smaller size silver replica of this jali as a token of love and friendship between the two countries. Such silver replica was presented to queen Elizabeth of England when she had arrived at Ahmedabad before around forty five years with the then Prime Minister of India Shri Nehru to view this piece of art. There is also a small shop at this mosque, which sells the smaller size wooden replicas of this art work along with the photographs of this fine art piece. Such replicas can be purchased in around Rs.360 ($9) per piece. Due to this, the sample of this art work has reached in to the drawing rooms of many families in India as well as in abroad.
The tourists can easily reach the city of Ahmedabad by air, train, or the bus service. Ahmedabad is an international airport and there are regular flights from USA, London, Australia, and the Middle East countries for Ahmedabad. There are around 4 daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities of India for Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is also connected from Mumbai by train. And around fifty numbers of trains are available to travel from Mumbai daily. There are hundreds of hotels available to stay for the tourists, suitable to all kinds of pockets. It would be better to visit Ahmedabad during the winter months from November to March. The summer is extremely hot here and may be avoided if possible.
If you are a lover of art and the history, this Sidi Saiyad Jali at Ahmedabad in Gujarat State of India awaits for your visit eagerly.
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