Shopian’s Jamia Masjid: Crowned Jewel of Heritage, Fuels Tourism Hopes

The residents of Shopian in South Kashmir are filled with joy and pride as the historic Jamia Masjid in the district has been honoured with the title of Beautiful Heritage Place under the City Beauty Competition, 2024, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Advocate Owais Ahmad Khan, a prominent social activist from Shopian, expressed his elation over the recognition, highlighting the unique architectural significance of Jamia Masjid Shopian. Drawing parallels to renowned mosques like Jamia Masjid Srinagar and Jamia Masjid Delhi, Khan emphasized the monumental heritage of the structure.

Dating back to around 1944, the foundation of the present-day Jamia Masjid was laid by the forefathers of the locals, utilizing locally available materials despite facing severe poverty. The recent recognition by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has sparked hope for a new era of heritage tourism in the district.

Commending the efforts of the district administration and the Municipal Council (MC) Shopian, Khan praised their role in carrying out a mega renovation drive to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the mosque. Mohammad Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of MC Shopian, expressed pride in the recognition, emphasizing the municipality’s contributions to the development of the mosque over the past few years.

“We have focused on enhancing infrastructure around the mosque, including footpaths, ornamental lighting systems, and seating arrangements,” stated Iqbal. He further elaborated on ongoing projects aimed at further beautification, such as the development of additional footpaths and collaboration with executive agencies to beautify the canal behind the mosque.