Which Lahore mosque, commissioned by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, was completed in 1673?

Lahore’s Badshahi Mosque, commissioned by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, was completed in 1673.

The mosque was built between 1671 and 1673 on the western side of Lahore’s historic walled city, near the Lahore Fort. Its construction was supervised by Fidai Khan Koka, who served as governor of Lahore and was one of Aurangzeb’s senior officials. The building uses red sandstone with extensive marble decoration, a characteristic combination in monumental Mughal architecture.

The Badshahi Mosque has four tall corner minarets, three large marble domes, and a vast courtyard. At the time of its construction, it was among the largest mosques in the world. Its scale reflects the Mughal court’s interest in creating imperial religious and ceremonial spaces.

The mosque should not be confused with Lahore’s Wazir Khan Mosque, which is earlier and especially famous for its colorful tilework and painted decoration. The Badshahi Mosque remained an important landmark through Sikh and British rule and is now one of Pakistan’s best-known historic monuments.