The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c30.s1.59

v3.c30.s1.59

Of the few monuments in the wooden—or mainly wooden—style whose origin goes back to the pre-Mughul period, the most imposing is the *Jāmi‘ Masjid* at Srīnagar. Founded by Sikandar Butshikan (1390–1414) and extended by his son Zain-ul-‘Ābidīn, it was thrice burnt down and thrice rebuilt—once in 1479, a second time in 1620, and a third time in 1674—and after again falling to ruin was extensively restored in recent years. In spite, however, of its many vicissitudes, the original design seems to have been more or less faithfully repeated by successive restorers, and, though little of the first fabric is now left, the monument is still an instructive exemplar of the pre-Mughul style. Its plan is the orthodox one: a rectangular court closed by colonnades on its four sides, wherein the familiar method has been followed of screening the four colonnades from the court by an arched façade and setting a spacious hall in the middle of each—the hall on the west, which is the largest, constituting the prayer chamber, and the other three serving, as usual, for entrance gateways. But though there is nothing uncommon in the planning of this mosque, great and exceptional dignity is given to its elevation by the noble proportions of the four halls with their soaring spires, and this dignity is more than sustained as one enters the interior and gazes up at the timbered ceilings and lofty columns, each hewn from a single log, that support it.