GT Digital
Atop a quiet hillock and overlooking Goa's Bicholim town lies a unique example of Islamic architecture — Namazgah.
The Namazgah has a mix of Persian and Mughal construction styles.
It has an open courtyard flanked by long balconies with columns and crescent capitals.
It was constructed for Prince Akbar II, the son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, in 1683.
The main structure has a dome on top.
The word Namazagh originates from Persian namaz (prayer) and idgah (a place of prayer used by Muslims only on the occasion of Eid).
At one end, one can see two minarets and a semicircular niche, 'Mihrab', that points in the direction of Mecca (qibla). It is this wall that the devotees face while praying.
One can get a panoramic view of the Bicholim town and its nearby areas from the Namazgah.