Rani Sipri Mosque

Rani Sipri Mosque is a 16th-century mosque located in the Astodia area of the walled city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Built in 1514 by Rani Sipri, wife of Sultan Mahmud Begada, it is also known as Masjid-e-Nagina (Jewel Mosque) for its delicate architecture. Notable for its intricate stone jali work, slender minarets, and Indo-Islamic design blending Islamic and Hindu-Jain elements, it is a protected monument and a significant example of Gujarat Sultanate architecture.

Visitors can expect a compact, elegantly proportioned mosque set within the dense old city near Astodia Gate. The structure features a central arched prayer hall, slender minarets, a domed roof, and finely carved stone jali screens with floral and geometric patterns. The interior is relatively small and serene, with carved pillars and mihrabs. The surroundings are urban and residential, with narrow streets. Visitors can explore the exterior, courtyard, and prayer hall exterior, observe detailed stonework, and experience a quiet historic atmosphere.

Commissioned in 1514 by Rani Sipri, queen of Sultan Mahmud Begada (Mahmud Shah I) of the Gujarat Sultanate. Built during the peak of Ahmedabad's development as the Sultanate capital, it exemplifies the mature Gujarat Sultanate style of Indo-Islamic architecture. The mosque is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and represents the patronage of royal women in medieval Gujarat.

Known locally as Masjid-e-Nagina due to its jewel-like elegance, the mosque is noted for its exquisite jali work and synthesis of Islamic arches and domes with Hindu-Jain carving traditions. It remains an active place of worship and a significant heritage attraction within Ahmedabad's UNESCO World Heritage walled city, illustrating the city's composite architectural heritage.