Mecca Masjid is the oldest and biggest mosque in Hyderabad. The mosque is so big that 10,000 people can offer prayers in the mosque at a time. It is located very close to Charminar. The architecture of the mosque is very beautiful. The mosque is one of the sacred places of worship for Muslims.

There is an interesting story behind the name of the mosque. Some bricks were brought from Mecca and inserted in the main arch of the mosque. Thus the mosque came to be known as ‘Mecca Masjid’. It is said that Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah began the construction of the mosque in 1617 and the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb completed the mosque in 1694. The construction of the mosque took 77 years. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. The hall where the prayers are carried out is widespread. It is 180 feet long, 220 feet wide and 75 feet high. There are 15 arches in this hall, 5 each on 3 walls.
Hyderabad has many buildings made out of granite and the Mecca Masjid is no exception to it. The inside of the mosque is marvellous. All in all the masjid is an awe-inspiring structure. A tall wall covers the west of the mosque. The Mecca Masjid is named and patterned after the grand mosque of Mecca. There are 2 octagonal pillars, made out of sole pieces of granite, on each side of the mosque.

The contents of the Quran are shown on the arches of the Mecca Masjid. There is a pond with seating arrangements, near the mosque. One can spend a quiet moment here. It is believed that if you sit on these benches, you will surely come back to Hyderabad. There is a room in the courtyard of the mosque in which there are holy mementos from the past. It is believed that the hair of Prophet Mohammed is kept here.

The streets around the mosque are bustling with life. These are one of the busiest streets in Hyderabad. Since Charminar is situated close to the Mecca Masjid, you can club your visit to Charminar with Mecca Masjid. The Mecca Masjid is a heritage building, however, lack of maintenance has withered the structure.