Herat Central Blue Mosque

The Herat Central Blue Mosque is a magnificent testament to Islamic architecture, gracing the city with its grandeur. The intricate blue tilework that adorns the mosque is breathtaking, creating a visual spectacle that captures the essence of Persian and Central Asian design. The spacious courtyard and prayer halls exude a sense of tranquility, providing a serene space for worship and reflection. The historical significance of the Blue Mosque adds depth to the visit, making it a must-see for those interested in the cultural and religious heritage of Afghanistan. While the maintenance could be more meticulous in certain areas, the overall experience at the Herat Central Blue Mosque is one of reverence and admiration for its architectural splendor.

The wonderful Blue Mosque in Herat has an active madrassa within it and if you can catch a lesson then even better.

Very beautiful masjid. It is centuries old, but the architecture is very beautiful

It was a lovely experience visiting this place. It's one of Afghanistan's beautiful and ancient Mosques.

The Great Mosque of Herat  or "Jami Masjid of Herat", is a mosque in the city of Herat, in the Herat Province of north-western Afghanistan. It was built by the Ghurids, under the rule of the Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Ghori, who laid its foundation in 1200 CE, and later extended by several rulers as Herat changed rulers down the centuries from the Timurids to the Safavids, Mughalsand then the Uzbeks, all of whom supported the mosque. Though many of the glazed tiles have been replaced during subsequent periods, the Friday Mosque in Herat was given its present form during the closing years of the fifteenth century.
Apart from numerous small neighborhood mosques for daily prayer, most communities in the Islamic world have a larger mosque, a congregational mosque for Friday services with a sermon. The Jama Masjid was not always the largest mosque in Herat; a much larger complex the Mosque and Madressa of Gawharshad, also built by the Timurids, was located in the northern part of the city. However, those architectural monuments were dynamited by officers of the British Indian Army in 1885, to prevent its use as a fortress if a Russian army tried to invade India.

The Masjid-i Jami of Herat, the city's first congregational mosque, was built on the site of two smaller Zoroastrian fire temples that were destroyed by earthquake and fire. A mosque was begun by the Ghurid ruler Ghiyas ad-Din Ghori in 1200 (597 AH), and, after his death, the building was continued by his brother and successor Muhammad of Ghor. This is confirmed both by an inscription on the eastern Ghurid portal uncovered in 1964 during a restoration, and by the sixteenth century Timurid historian Khwandamir in his Khulasat al-Akhbar.
In 1221, Genghis Khan conquered the province, and along with much of Herat, the small building fell into ruin. It wasn't until after 1245, under Shams al-Din Kart[2] that any rebuilding programs were undertaken, and construction on the mosque was not started until 1306.[1] However a devastating earthquake in 1364 left the building almost completely destroyed, although some attempt was made to rebuild it.[1] After 1397, the Timurid rulers redirected Herat's growth towards the northern part of the city. This suburbanization and the building of a new congregational mosque in Gawhar Shad's Musalla marked the end of the Masjid-i Jami's patronage by a monarchy. Replacement of the small ruined mosque was done by construction of an entirely new building with surrounding gardens, which was completed by Jalal al-Din Firuzshah, one of the most prominent emirs under Shah Rukh (1405–1444). The decorations alone took over five years to complete, as the emir brought in workers from all over the empire. The mosque was later given a final renovation under the Mughal Empire, when Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan) was fighting for control of the region against the Uzbek tribes.
Modern Developments

Little of the medieval Mosque remains, after the Anglo-Afghan wars much of the mosque was left destroyed. A program launched in 1945 rebuilt walls and rooms, expanded the northeastern section of the mosque from a length of approximately 101 meters to 121 meters and replaced expensive materials from all over the medieval Timurid and Mughal Empires with locally available cheap materials. Overall, the mosque's multiple reconstructions and restoration programs have left little to authenticate as original.
However the inscribed Ghorid portal remains, south of the existing main entrance to the mosque.
In 2012, some fifty Afghan traders promised funds for the renovation of the mosque.

A must visit place in Herat. Quite large outdoor area. Inside mosque has wonderful historical architecture..

It's beautiful ! I visited on March 27, 2019, I liked it but I needed a permission for photography anyway I provided it from the authorities there. People were nice there and allowed me to take photos of them.
The floor is clean and also you should take of your shoes entering to the yard that is made of white stones. The colorful tiles are everywhere on walls and minarets.

one of the most beautiful parts of herat historical city is of course The great mosque which has been located in the heart of the city which is easily accessible for all the citizens . Not only it has the capacity of great gathering but also It has great courtyards which is always clean and calm

Best outing Place of Herat city most historical point

One of finest architectural designs and humungous in the structure, this mosque is definitely gonna give you sense of peace and serenity.
A very beautiful place in the entire Asia .. a must visit.

Historical. Beautiful. Worth visiting

The Blue Mosque of Central Herat is a marvelous example of Islamic architecture.
The inner and outer walls speaks for itself of the medieval Islamic artistry,and colorful paintings.
This combined with the glazed tiles and artistic contributions makes it for a perfect view and visit.
Ever nook and corner of the mosque is neat and clean for the devotees to offer prayers.
This is alarge mosque but not the largest.
Yet its beauty is unmatched.
One must visit the mosque for praying to the almighty Allah.

Arguably the most beautiful example of Islamic architecture in all of Afghanistan, the Great Mosque of Herat’s nearly six-century history has been almost as tumultuous as that of the country. Both mosque and nation make evident Afghans’ resilience and determination to overcome challenges and rise again.
Construction of the mosque began in 1200, but the building fell into ruin only two decades later, after Genghis Khan conquered and pillaged the region.

Beautiful masjid.

It's very soothing and peaceful 😌.

A must visit place in Herat. Very peaceful place. Quite large outdoor area. Inside mosque has wonderful historical architecture..

Arguably the most beautiful example of Islamic architecture in all of Afghanistan.
It has been rebuilt, destroyed, and restored many times since 1200, and each new effort has built upon what came before.

The Great Mosque of Herat or "Jami Masjid of Herat", is a mosque in the city of Herat, in the Herat Province of north-western Afghanistan.Little of the medieval Mosque remains, after the Anglo-Afghan wars much of the mosque was left destroyed. A program launched in 1945 rebuilt walls and rooms, expanded the northeastern section of the mosque from a length of approximately 101 meters to 121 meters and replaced expensive materials from all over the medieval Timurid and Mughal Empires with locally available cheap materials. Overall, the mosque's multiple reconstructions and restoration programs have left little to authenticate as original.
However the inscribed Ghorid portal remains, south of the existing main entrance to the mosque.

Very nice and well designed mosque
Very nice architecture work
One can get relax once visit this place.
Will recommend to visit once in lifetime.

The Great Mosque of Herat or "Jami Masjid of Herat", is a mosque in the city of Herat, in the Herat Province of north-western Afghanistan. It was built by the Ghurids, under the rule of the Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Ghori, who laid its foundation in 1200 CE, and later extended by several rulers as Herat changed rulers down the centuries from the Timurids to the Safavids, Mughalsand then the Uzbeks, all of whom supported the mosque. Though many of the glazed tiles have been replaced during subsequent periods, the Friday Mosque in Herat was given its present form during the closing years of the fifteenth century.