Inside Tour of Lahore Badshahi Mosque | The Emperor's Mosque | On The Spot Pk

Badshahi Mosque History:
The Badshahi Mosque (Punjabi: بادشاہی مسجد, lit. 'Royal Mosque') is a Mughal-era congregational mosque in Lahore located at the west of the Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled City of Lahore. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and is generally considered to be one of Lahore's iconic landmarks.

The Badshahi Mosque was constructed by the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707) between 1671 and 1673 and was the largest mosque in the world from 1673 to 1986. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest mosque of the Mughal-era, and is the third-largest mosque in Pakistan. After the fall of the Mughal Empire, the mosque was used as a garrison by the British Empire, and is now one of Pakistan's most iconic sights.

Location:
The mosque is located adjacent to the Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan. The entrance to the mosque lies on the western side of the rectangular Hazuri Bagh, and faces the famous Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort, which is located on the eastern side of the Hazuri Bagh. The mosque is also located next to the Roshnai Gate, one of the original thirteen gates of Lahore, which is located to the southern side of the Hazuri Bagh.

Near the entrance of the mosque lies the Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal, a poet widely revered in Pakistan as the founder of the Pakistan Movement which led to the creation of Pakistan as a homeland for the Muslims of British India. Also located near the mosque's entrance is the tomb of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, who is credited for playing a major role in preservation and restoration of the mosque.