Qila-I-Khun Masjid has often been referred to as one of the most graceful mosques in
Delhi and was said to have been constructed in the 16th century. It is better known as the Sher Shah mosque.
When Sher Shah, the Afghan, defeated Humayun , the Mughal emperor of India, on the banks of the Ganges River, Humayun was in the process of building his new dream city, Dinpanah. Sher Shah, instead of demolishing the construction, chose to build further on the work that Humayun had already undertaken. Sher Shah completed the fort wall and built several structures for the use of his court within the fort, including the mosque.
The Sher Shah mosque has five arched openings in the facade with the central arch higher than the others. It also has frames within a projection which is quite a unique feature. Another unique and distinctive feature of the mosque is that the little towers are placed at the back of the mosque. They have sloping rounded sides and have a very close resemblance to the Qutab Minar. The proportions of the mosque are considered to be very ideal and the use of different colored stones, red, white, grey and black give the structure additional grace. There is also a close blend of Hindu and Muslim features. The prayer hall of the mosque is large. The courtyard had a shallow tank with a fountain which has now been converted into a garden.
