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Mosques in Kerala
Charachira Jama Masjid
This mosque is located at Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram city. It has a spacious hall to accommodate several hundreds for prayers.
Nainar Mosque
Situated at Karikodu in Idukki district.
This mosque is the largest and oldest in Idukki district. It was rebuilt in 1979, retaining the stone steps with inscriptions in an ancient script, a water tank sculpted from a single rock and some old pillars similar to the pillars found in temples of the old mosque.
Kanjiramattom Mosque
Situated at Kanjiramattom in Ernakulam district.
This mosque is the right example of antique beauty of mazhars and dargahs. The annual Chandanakudam in January attracts many pilgrims. During the festival, pilgrims carry pots smeared with sandalwood paste in a procession to the mosque. caparisoned elephants and percussion musics – both found in temples – form essential parts of the Chandanakudam festival.
Cheraman Jama Masjid
This Mosque is located at Kodungallur, about 37-km from Thrissur.
This Mosque resembles temple. Built in 628 AD, in Al Hijra 7, that is, 7 years after Prophet’s migration to Madina, it is the oldest Mosque in India and the second oldest in the world.
The legend has it that King Cheraman Perumal converted into Islam and accepted the name of Thajudeen. It was after the conversion he married the sister of Jeddah King of Saudi Arabia. Before his death Thajudeen had handed over letters addressed to various Kings in Kerala, requesting help to propagate Islam, to his brother-in-law. The history has to say that the King of Jeddah came to Kerala and sought help of the King of Kodungallur to build a Mosque. The Kodungallur King offered all help and the Juma Masjid named after Cheraman came up.
Pazhayangadi Mosque
Located at Pazhayangadi in Malappuram district and just 5-km from Karipur Airport.
The Mughal style architectured Mosque has a lovely white dome and intricate filigree work. Amidst the coconut palms in the distance, the Mosque looks highly attractive. I;t is an 18th century creation. The annual festival called Valia Nercha (big offering) is immensely popular near and far.
Jamat Mosque
Located in Malappuram on Malappuram-Venkara Road.
Modelled after temple, this 280 years old Mosque has blue doors and snow-white walls to give it a distinction it rightly deserves. It was built under the directions of the Hindu Prana Nambi family. The mighty family had once usurped the properties of Muslims by sheer muscle power. The tears of many affected Muslims had an adverse effect on the Nambi family, resulting in incurable illness to them. To get rid of the trauma they were advised to build a Mosque as repentance. The Malappuram Jamat Mosque is the result of it.
Odathil Mosque
This Mosque is located 500-m from Thalassery Fort in Kannur district.
The Mosque is built on the land gifted by Portuguese by an Arab gold and timber merchant. It has no domes or minarets. With carved wooden walls and copper ceiling the Mosque has a real temple touch. It was renovated with the help of Portuguese Fundaceo Oriente Institution in Lisbon.
Malik Dinar Mosque
This Mosque is located at Thalangana in Kasargod.
Malik Ibn Dinar, a slave’s son, was an ardent disciple of Prophet Mohamed. He was the initiator of Islam propagation in Kerala. This Mosque was also built by him. The body of Ibn Dinar was buried within the Mosque.
There is annual Urs festival which is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of Malik Dinar in Kasargod. The Urs attracts pilgrims from all over India in thousands.
