Hilal Khan Mosque

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Hilal Khan Ghazi Mosque, also called Bahlol Khan Gazi's Mosque, is the oldest mosque in Dholka, Gujarat, India. It was built in 1333 by Hilal Khan Ghazi during the Tughlaq era and is considered one of the period’s most significant examples of Islamic architecture in the region.

The mosque sits in a large open courtyard about 32 meters wide. The prayer hall lies on the western side facing the Qibla and is arranged in three aisles beneath five domes, with the central aisle hosting the tallest dome and a jali screen that lets light and air through to the mihrab area. The Qibla wall holds five mihrabs, three of which have external buttresses. The mihrabs are richly decorated with intricate micro-architectural details; most inscriptions have faded, but a foundation inscription names the patron and the ruling Delhi sultan and mentions the architect Abd-al-Karim Latif.

A northern section called muluk-khana (royal area) is raised about seven meters above the floor, separated by a jali and having its own entrance and mihrab. A southern dome has fallen over time. The façade features a Pishtaq with three equal arches that connect to the central dome, and the prayer hall is separated from the courtyard by these arches and by large side windows; the muluk-khana has its own jali-decorated window.

Two decorative towers rise about 15 meters above the roof, with carved stone shafts and eaves supported by curved brackets, reflecting micro-architectural elements inspired by older towers. The roof originally had several small pavilions, two of which remain.

Inside, the mosque houses a celebrated stone minbar with seven steps and varied geometric patterns; its Hindu-influenced design includes four sturdy pillars and bracket capitals. A platform in front of the minbar adds to the mystery of its use. The building also features delicately perforated stone screens (jali) throughout, letting in light and giving a sense of reverence in the prayer spaces.

Hilal Khan Ghazi Mosque stands as a striking example of the blend between Hindu and Islamic architectural elements that characterizes Western India’s medieval heritage.