Vellore Fort Mosque

Vellore Fort Mosque is a historic mosque located inside the 16th-century Vellore Fort in Vellore city, Tamil Nadu. Situated within the fort complex alongside Jalakanteswarar Temple and St. John's Church, it exemplifies the fort's multi-religious heritage. Built during the Arcot Nawab period in the 18th century, the mosque features simple Indo-Islamic architecture with arched entrances and a prayer hall. It remains an active place of worship and a notable heritage attraction for visitors exploring Vellore Fort.

Visitors can expect a modest, historic mosque situated within the walled Vellore Fort complex, surrounded by granite fort walls and a moat. The structure features a simple prayer hall with arched openings, domes and Indo-Islamic design elements. The mosque is located near the Jalakanteswarar Temple and St. John's Church, allowing visitors to see three different religious structures within one fort. The area is open for sightseeing, photography of exteriors, and quiet observation outside prayer times.

Vellore Fort was built in 1566 by Chinna Bommi Nayak and Thimma Reddy Nayak under the Vijayanagara Empire. The mosque inside the fort was constructed during the 18th century when the fort was under the control of the Nawabs of Arcot. It reflects the Islamic architectural influence during that period and the fort's history under Vijayanagara, Bijapur Sultanate, Marathas, Arcot Nawabs and later British administration.

The mosque is part of the distinctive multi-religious character of Vellore Fort, which houses a Hindu temple, a Christian church and an Islamic mosque within the same fortified complex. It serves as an active place of worship for the local Muslim community and illustrates the cultural coexistence and layered heritage of the region.