Telangana: Ancient masjid now home to anti-socials

Warangal: The area around the Warangal fort, known as Khila Warangal, has remnants of several structures that were built at different historical times. The structures built during the Kakatiya reign are famous, nut several other structures in the area built after the fall of the empire are ignored. 

One such structure is the Konda Masjid, now hidden behind the houses that have come up in the area. Though it is just 200 metres from the Warangal fort and right behind Kush Mahal, it is off the radar of tourists as well as officials. As a result, it has become a place for locals to defecate, and for anti-socials to gather.

Historians suggest that this structure, made completely of stone, was built after the death of Prataparudra. It has 40 pillars as tall as 20 feet set in four rows. The architecture clearly suggests it was an Islamic building. The arches between the pillars resemble those in the Sithabh Khan Mahal. 

Pictures of the Konda Masjid which is located behind Kush Mahal near near Fort Warangal.

Ancient texts suggest that the masjid was built by Ulugh Khan, the brother of Alauddin Khijli, one of the most powerful rulers of the Delhi sultanate, before he returned to Delhi. It was a gift for the Thurushka sardars to offer their namaz. 

“It is believed that the beautiful architecture was meant for concentration during namaz. The structure was mentioned in the book ‘Kreedabhiramam’ written in the early 14th century by Vinukonda Vallabharayudu,” said local archaeologist Aravind Arya Pakide.

“The structure comes under the limits of the Archaeological Survey of India but it has not made efforts to maintain it. There are several such structures still lying unnoticed within the rock fort,” he said. Locals appealed to the authorities to develop the structure into a tourist attraction. Cleaning the surroundings, gardening, fencing the area and an information board would ensure that tourist visit the mosque.