Though the state of Maharashtra delivers a distinctive Hindu appearance, it carries the culture of secularism. It is a combined spot of various communities with several churches, Dargah, mosques and Zoroastrian fire temples all in one place. The most popular Dargah in Aurangabad is the Bibi-ka-Maqbara, Dargah of Baba Shah Muzaffar, Sayeed Burhan-ud-din and Sayeed Zain-ud-din. The Haji Ali mausoleum in the Mumbai city is quite popular and it seems to be floating on sea. Kamar Ali Darvesh Dargah and Sheikh Salla Dargah are most significant Dargah’s in Pune. The Kamar Ali Darvesh Dargah is one among the places visited by people of all religions. Jama Masjid, Gharib Nawaz Mosque, Dwarakamayi Mosque are also in the list of most popular mosques in Maharashtra.

Gharib Nawaz Mosque

Gharib Nawaz Mosque or Masjid Gharib Nawaz is a well-known mosque in Mominpura, Nagpur. This beautiful mosque is built after Hadhrat Khwaja Mouniuddin Chishti (R.A). The dome of this mosque is quite similar to Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A) shrine.

The mosque has been constructed with amazing interiors with marble covered walls. The mosque carries 27 arches. Each arch is decorated with calligraphic verses of holy Quran. These walls also carry the names of AHL AL BAIT and 4 KHALIFAH(S).

Jama Masjid, Nagpur

Jama Masjid is situated in Mominpura of Nagpur. This is the biggest mosque of this region. This mosque was constructed with very huge dome with 2 small and 2 big minarets at its backside. There is a garden in the front of its north gate and a vehicle parking facility in its southern direction.

Jama Masjid, Kalbadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Jama Masjid is located at Kalbadevi neighborhood, besides Crawford Market in the southern region of Mumbai, India. The Muslim community in Mumbai possesses 89 mosques. Among them, 8 belongs to Bohras, 1 to Mughals and 2 to Khojas and all the remaining mosques belongs to Sunni Muslims. Jama Masjid comes with a structure of quadrangular pile of stones and bricks surrounded by a circle of double storeyed terrace roofed buildings. The ground floor of this was left for shops. The eastern or main gate of this mosque directly opens to a courtyard, which is now developed with embankments and masonry steps. This tank was constructed in the year 1893 with a ten feet water filled with silver and golden fish.

Right from the depth of the tank, there arouses 16 black stone arches which were built in the year 1874. This supports the entire building of the mosque. The upper storey was upheld by 5 rows of wooden pillars. Each of these pillars carries a receptacle for holy books. The arches in this tank was constructed in the year 1874 and other notable constructions like huge windows in the south, east and north sides was built during 1898 and the school building was constructed during 1902. This school in the name of Madressa Muhammadiah provides free religious and secular education to all Muslim youths.

The most popular among them are the Bohra Masjid situated to the west of Jama Masjid, Ismail Habib Masjid in Memonwada, the Mughal Masjid constructed by Kaji Mahomed Hussein Shirazi on Jail road, the Khoja Ashna Ashari Masjid constructed in the year 1903, Sattad Masjid besides Masjid Bandar Station, Jakaria Masjid at Mandvi, the old mosque located besides the tomb of Sheikh Makhtum Faikh Ali, Mahim and the Jama Masjid in Sheikh Memon street.

Bibi Ka Maqbara

This is located at a distance of 3 km from the main city. This is where Aurangzeb’s wife, Rabia-ud-Durrani was buried. This is somewhat similar to Taj Mahal at Agra and hence popularly referred as Mini Taj of Deccan. Bibi Ka Maqbara stands proudly at the center of well designed Mughal garden consisting of axial ponds, pavilions, broad pathways, water channels and fountains. At the back of Maqbara is situated a small archaeologically important museum.

Khuldabad

Khuldabad is a bounded area situated at about 3 km from the popular Ellora. This place is also called as Karbala town and is the holy place for Deccan Muslims. Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb was believed to be rested here. Aurangzeb tomb remains as a powerful testimony of the faith and simple lifestyle of this great Muslim king.

Killa Arrak

Killa Arrak was constructed as a palace in the year 1962 by Aurangzeb. Killa Arrak encloses a wide area in the city between the Mecca and city’s Delhi gates. There are 4 or 5 gateways in this Killa Arrak and nagarkhana for music artists. The great walls of Killa Arrak are battlemented with loop-holes and possess a semi-circular tower at particular angle. These angles are the place where guns were mounted at a time. The inner area carries recesses that are same as those present in city walls. The right side of the entrance comes with a big terrace which is extended to the entire length of the enclosed ground area. There is an exclusive garden, cistern and half destroyed tanks. The Jumma Masjid and the Darbar Hall or Am Khas still remain there. An area near to this Masjid is secured for sports activities. The gate of this ground carries an inscription which dates back to 1659 A.D. The throne room or Takht of Aurangzeb is situated with a garden pavilion and delivers a rostra look.

Kali Masjid Jumma Masjid

Among all the mosques, the Kali Masjid and Jumma Masjid constructed by Malik Ambar and also the Shah Ganj mosque are the highly significant ones. Malik Ambar is known to have constructed seven mosques which were named with a common name of Kali Masjid. This Masjid was constructed in the year 1600 A.D in Juna Bazar. This Masjid is a six-pillared stone edifice that was erupted in high plinth. Malik Ambar’s Jumma Masjid is situated near to Killa Arrak. The building carries 50 polygonal pillars lined in 5 rows and linked by domical vault of elegant and simple design. The front portion comes with 9 pointed arches. Among them, 5 were done by Malik Ambar in the year 1612 A.D, the remaining four of them was done by Aurangzeb. The high plinth contains various chambers which are open towards the market place. The sloping cornice is well balanced on brackets and parapet wall is perfectly perforated. The corner angles possess octagonal shafts that are luxuriously ornamented.

Shah Ganj Masjid

This is one of the finest buildings in India which occupies the great market square of Indian great Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. This Shah Ganj Masjid was constructed in the year 1720 A.D. The author of Muntakhabu-al-Lubab, Khafi Khan referred to Sayyad Husain Khan’s viceroyalty of Deccan during 1714 and 1719 and stated that, ‘the reservoir at this Shah Ganj Masjid was initiated by Sayyad Husain Ali, even though Aazu-d DaulaIraz Khan extended this with higher mosques and buildings, still Sayyad Husain Ali is the initiator of this large reservoir which during summer season when there is heavy water scarcity, it relieves the inhabitants with its water’. The mosque is situated on a raised platform and carries shops on three of its four outer sides. While the fourth or the northern side is open and is attached by flight of steps, the façade which demonstrates an arcade of 5 collapsed arches. This mosque was built in Indo-Saracenic style and well balanced on stone pillars. This part slightly projects forward whereas the interior comes with 24 pillars.

Chauk Masjid

Chauk Masjid was constructed in the year 1655 by maternal uncle of Aurangzeb, Shayista Khan.  The front portion of Chauk Masjid comprises 5 pointed arches and in depth, there are 2 arches. These are interlinked with 8 pillars and supporting pilasters, all together perfectly balanced by 5 domes. The dome present in the center is lofty with a metallic spire whereas other domes are connected in roof of the Masjid. The corners of this building are embellished with minarets. The entire structure is supported on an elevated basement comprising chambers which are deployed for shops that are opened towards the roadside. There are 2 minarets at its gates. There is also a cistern present in the courtyard located before the mosque.

Haji Ali

Haji Ali Dargah is a dargah and mosque situated on the Islet of Worli coast in the southern part of Mumbai. This dargah proudly stands as an example of Indo-Islamic architecture and is closely associated with legends and doomed lovers. This is one among the renowned landmark of this Mumbai city. Haji Ali is a tomb and mosque carrying the remains of a wealthy merchant, Saint Sayyed Peer Haji Ali Shah Bukhari. He was inspired and decided to change his lifestyle after visiting Mecca. This is located on the ocean and can be reached only when there is low tide. On Thursdays and Fridays, nearly 40,000 pilgrims visit this place. Irrespective of any religions and faith, people throng this dargah to seek the blessings of renowned saint. At times, several Sufi musicians perform devotional music known as Qawwali at this dargah.

The whitewashed construction of this dargah occupies a wide area of about 4,500 sqmts with a tower of about 85 foot. Situated at the back of this sculpted front is a marble courtyard which carries a central shrine. The tomb situated inside this mosque is surrounded by brocaded green and red chaddar, which is nothing but a tomb cover sheet. This is balanced by exclusive silver frame, well supported by pillars made of marble. The main hall of this mosque carries marble pillars decorated with beautiful mirror works: yellow, green and blue glass chips placed in Kaleidoscope pattern separated with Arabic patterns that dictate the 99 names of Allah. As per the tradition of Muslims, separate prayer rooms for gents and ladies are constructed in this mosque. At the time of high tide, this dargah is totally isolated and remains like a little island.

Bohra Masjid

This is an architecturally designed amazing mosque in the area of Shantinagar, Itwari and Nagpur. This Bohra Masjid is exclusively designed for Dawoodi Bohra community residing in Nagpur region. This Masjid attracts thousands of Islamic population from both India and abroad.

Jama Mosque, Furus

This is the major oldest prevalent mosque in Furus, Ratnagiri district of Indian State of Maharashtra. The courtyard of this mosque can accommodate 500 worshippers. This mosque is very bold, simple, vast and greatly majestic in its appearance. It carries a huge dome constructed from masonry cement. There are several inscriptions on the gateway of this mosque.

Kamar Ali Darvesh Dargah

Kamar Ali Darvesh Dargah is located in Shivapur, a small village about 16 km from the city of Pune. The notable feature of this place is the presence of two big stones, which can be lifted only by uttering the holy name of Kamar Ali Darvesh is one go.

One among the 2 stones can be uplifted by group of 7 people by using their single finger while all of them simultaneously uttering Kamar Ali Darvesh. The other stone can also be lifted in the same manner by eleven people. This may either be scientific or spiritual but the mystery is till remaining. There is a fair or ‘Urus’ organized at Shivapur once in every year.
Thus, the state of Maharashtra stands as a living example of secularism in our country.