Khirki Masjid Delhi: History, Timings and Guide

Khirki Masjid is one of the most unusual and intriguing medieval monuments in Delhi, a 14th-century Tughlaq-era mosque tucked away in the lanes of south Delhi, remarkable for being largely covered and fortress-like rather than open to the sky like most mosques of its age and named the "Mosque of Windows" for the beautiful latticed openings that give it light and air. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers Khirki Masjid in full, its history, its remarkable architecture, the timings, the free entry and how to reach it, a fascinating offbeat addition for anyone exploring the capital's medieval heritage on a Golden Triangle tour.

I was born in Delhi and in more than 11 years planning trips across the region for Experience My India I have taken history-loving travellers into the lanes of Khirki village to find this extraordinary mosque, which surprises everyone who steps inside. Here is the clear, practical guide to visiting.

Khirki Masjid at a glance

About Khirki Masjid

Khirki Masjid, whose name means the "Mosque of Windows", is a striking and historic mosque in the Khirki village area of south Delhi, dating from the 14th century. It is one of the most architecturally remarkable monuments of the Delhi Sultanate and yet one of the least visited, hidden as it is in the residential lanes of an old urban village, which only adds to the pleasure of discovering it.

What makes Khirki Masjid so special is its highly unusual design. Unlike the traditional mosques of the medieval era, which are built around a large open courtyard, Khirki Masjid is largely roofed and covered, giving it the solid, fortress-like appearance that so surprises first-time visitors. Combined with its beautiful latticed windows, its many small domes and its raised platform, this makes it a monument of real architectural interest and a rewarding find for anyone who loves history and unusual buildings. It belongs to the great age of Tughlaq building in Delhi and makes a fascinating companion to the other monuments of that dynasty, as our Feroz Shah Kotla Delhi guide covers the citadel of the very sultan whose minister built this mosque.

The history of Khirki Masjid

Khirki Masjid was built in the mid-14th century, during the rule of the Tughlaq dynasty, one of the great building ages of medieval Delhi. It was constructed between about 1351 and 1354 CE, in the reign of Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq, a ruler famous for his prolific building across the city.

The mosque was not built by the sultan himself but by his powerful prime minister or vizier, Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah. Junan Shah was one of the most important figures of the age and a great patron of architecture in his own right, responsible for a number of mosques across Delhi, of which Khirki Masjid is among the finest and most distinctive. Building such a grand mosque was both an act of piety and a mark of the minister's high standing at the Tughlaq court. Today the mosque stands as a monument to that era, a survivor of the Delhi Sultanate preserved amid the modern city and it links directly to the wider story of Feroz Shah Tughlaq's Delhi, as our Hauz Khas Fort guide covers another great complex of the same reign.

The remarkable architecture of Khirki Masjid

The architecture of Khirki Masjid is its glory and it is unlike almost any other mosque you will see. It repays slow, careful exploration, for its design is both ingenious and beautiful.

The most striking thing is that, unlike the traditional open-courtyard mosques of the medieval era, Khirki Masjid is largely roofed and covered. It is laid out on an architectural grid, divided into quarters and roofed with a remarkable array of 81 small domes, supported by a forest of 180 square columns and 60 pilasters. To let in light and air to this largely covered interior, the design incorporates four small internal open courtyards, set within the grid, a clever and elegant solution that fills the shadowy interior with shafts of daylight. Walking through the columned, domed, half-lit interior, with its pools of light falling from the open courts, is a genuinely atmospheric experience, quite unlike any other mosque in the city. The whole effect is at once solid and serene and it marks Khirki Masjid out as one of the most original works of Tughlaq architecture.

The "Khirki" windows and the name

The mosque owes its name, the "Mosque of Windows", to one of its most charming features. "Khirki" means window in Hindi and Urdu and the mosque is named for the ornate windows that are such a distinctive part of its design.

These khirkis are beautiful stone-latticed windows, set on the upper levels of the structure, with their stone pierced into screens. They serve a clever dual purpose, admitting air and illumination into the building while at the same time maintaining privacy, in keeping with the architectural traditions of the age. The play of light through these latticed windows, together with the light from the internal courtyards, gives the interior its special, dappled atmosphere. These windows are so characteristic of the building that they gave it the name by which it has been known for centuries and spotting and admiring them is one of the pleasures of a visit.

The elevated platform and basement

Another notable feature of Khirki Masjid is the way the whole structure is raised up, which adds to its imposing, fortress-like presence. The entire square-plan mosque sits upon a high arched basement, a raised platform standing some three metres high.

This basement, known as a taikhana, lifts the mosque above the surrounding ground and would once have given it a commanding presence over its neighbourhood, as well as providing cool, shaded space below. Approaching the mosque and climbing up to its raised platform, you get a sense of how such a building was designed both for worship and for a certain grandeur and defensibility, in keeping with the robust, martial spirit of Tughlaq architecture. The combination of the raised platform, the covered domed interior, the latticed windows and the solid walls makes Khirki Masjid feel almost like a small fortress of the faith, a wholly distinctive design.

Khirki Masjid timings

Khirki Masjid is open to visitors daily, from sunrise to sunset, with the usual hours being from around 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. These generous daylight hours give plenty of scope to explore the mosque and appreciate its unusual architecture.

Because the mosque is a quiet, less-managed site tucked into a residential area, it is best visited during clear daylight hours, when you can properly see and enjoy the interplay of light and shade in the covered interior and the beautiful latticed windows. The morning and the late afternoon are especially atmospheric, when the low sun throws its light through the khirkis and the open courts. Allow around half an hour to explore the mosque fully and to take in its remarkable design at a relaxed pace.

Entry fee: free to visit

One of the pleasures of Khirki Masjid is that it is completely free to visit. There is no ticket or entry fee required, which makes it an easy and rewarding stop for anyone exploring the medieval heritage of south Delhi.

This, together with its quiet, uncrowded atmosphere, makes Khirki Masjid a real find for history lovers and for travellers who enjoy discovering the lesser-known monuments of the city away from the ticketed crowds. It is the kind of hidden gem that rewards the curious and it pairs beautifully with the other medieval monuments of south Delhi for a rewarding day of heritage exploring, as our things to do in Delhi guide covers the full range of the capital's attractions.

Location and how to reach Khirki Masjid

Khirki Masjid stands in the Khirki village area of south Delhi, off Khirki Extension Road, near Panchsheel Extension in the Malviya Nagar area. Its setting is part of its character: the entrance is tucked into the narrow residential alleys of the old Khirki village, near Press Enclave Marg, not far from the well-known malls of Saket, so finding it is part of the adventure.

By the Delhi Metro, the nearest station is Malviya Nagar on the Yellow Line, about 1.5 to 1.7 kilometres away, from where the mosque is a short auto-rickshaw ride or a walk through the lanes, as our Delhi metro guide for tourists covers using the metro to reach the city's sights. You can also reach it easily by taxi or auto-rickshaw from anywhere in south Delhi. Because the entrance is hidden in the village lanes, it can be a little tricky to find the first time, so it helps to have a guide or driver who knows the area or to allow a little extra time to locate it.

Combine Khirki Masjid with nearby sights

Khirki Masjid lies in a part of south Delhi that is rich in medieval monuments, which makes it easy to combine with other sights into a rewarding day of heritage exploring, away from the busiest attractions.

Very close by are the historic Satpula, a medieval dam and water structure from the Tughlaq period and the fine Begumpur Mosque, another grand mosque of the same era, both well worth seeing for those exploring the architecture of the age. A little further off is the world-famous Qutub Minar and the great spread of ruins around it, as our Mehrauli Archaeological Park guide covers that vast open-air site. Together, these monuments tell the story of medieval Delhi and its successive dynasties and a day spent among them is one of the most rewarding ways to experience the historic depth of the capital, well off the usual tourist trail.

The best time to visit Khirki Masjid

Khirki Masjid can be visited year round, but the most comfortable season to explore Delhi and its monuments is the cooler period from about October to March, when the weather is pleasant for walking around the sites of south Delhi, as our best time to visit Delhi guide covers the seasons in the capital.

Within the day, the morning and the late afternoon are the loveliest times to visit, when the low sun throws beautiful light through the latticed windows and the internal courtyards, bringing the covered interior to life. These times also avoid the harsher light and heat of midday, making for a more comfortable and atmospheric visit to this uniquely shadowy and serene mosque.

How to plan your visit

A visit to Khirki Masjid takes only about half an hour, so it is best combined with the other medieval monuments of south Delhi, such as Satpula, Begumpur Mosque and the Qutub Minar complex, into a rewarding half-day or full day of heritage exploring. By private car with a driver who knows the area, finding the tucked-away entrance and moving between the sites is simple and stress-free.

Delhi is the gateway to the Golden Triangle and fits beautifully into a wider trip, as our one week North India itinerary guide maps out a route taking in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and more.

Want your Delhi days planned, with Khirki Masjid, the monuments of south Delhi and the great sights all sorted around you? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Tips for visiting Khirki Masjid

• Visit during daylight hours, ideally morning or late afternoon, to see the beautiful play of light through the latticed windows and courtyards.

• Entry is free and there is no ticket counter, making this an easy, budget-friendly stop.

• The entrance is hidden in the narrow lanes of Khirki village, so allow a little extra time to find it or go with a guide or driver who knows the way.

• Take your time inside to appreciate the rare covered plan, the 81 domes and the forest of columns.

• Dress modestly and behave respectfully, as at any mosque or place of worship.

• Combine the visit with nearby Satpula, Begumpur Mosque and the Qutub Minar complex for a full day of medieval heritage.

• Reach it from Malviya Nagar metro station, about 1.5 to 1.7 kilometres away, by a short auto ride or walk.

What to expect

A visit to Khirki Masjid is a step into one of the most unusual and atmospheric corners of medieval Delhi. You can expect a remarkable 14th-century Tughlaq mosque, quite unlike any other, largely covered and fortress-like, with a grid of 81 domes resting on a forest of columns, four small light-filled courtyards, beautiful stone-latticed windows and a high raised platform, all hidden away in the lanes of an old urban village. It is quiet, uncrowded and genuinely surprising.

As a free, offbeat and architecturally extraordinary monument, set among the medieval heritage of south Delhi, Khirki Masjid is a wonderful addition for any traveller who loves history and unusual buildings and seeks out the quieter treasures of a city. With only a short visit needed and a design unlike anything else in Delhi, it is well worth seeking out on any thoughtful itinerary.

Plan your trip with us

A visit to Khirki Masjid, as part of a wider Delhi and Golden Triangle trip, is easiest and most enjoyable when the travel, the stays, the guide and the sightseeing are all arranged for you. That is what we do, a comfortable private car and an experienced driver who knows the lanes, a knowledgeable guide to bring the monuments and their history to life, well-chosen stays and the whole trip planned around you.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. You can combine Delhi with the classic circuit on our Golden Triangle tours and we can build it all within our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

Related guides

• New Delhi tour: the capital's imperial landmarks.

• Old Delhi tour: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.

• Delhi day tour: the best of the capital in a day.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.