Gowharshad Mosque, Mashad is a famous Mosque in Mashad. It is located in Razavi Khorasan province of Iran. Tourists who visit Mashad must visit Gowharshad Mosque, Mashad not only for its historic significance but also for its grandeur.
The Mosque was built by the orders of Gowharshad, the wife of Shah Rukh of the Timurid Dynasty in 1418 CE. The Architect of the edifice was Ghavameddin Shirazi. The mosque underwent some renovations during the Safavid and Qajar era. It has 4 iwans and a courtyard measuring 50 meters by 55 meters. It also has several Shabestans.
The Grand Mosque of Gowharshad with its 50 meter high faience dome and cavernous golden portal is located immediately to the south of the holy shrine of Imam Reza square. Architecturally the Mosque is even more important than the mausoleum.
Queen Gowharshad daughter in law of Tamer lane was a great patron of the arts Gowharshad was one of the most remarkable women of Islamic history and a great personality during that period. Most of her major architectural commissions were at her capital Heart. But this mosque in Mashhad is the best preserved testament to her genius. She built this beautiful mosque between the year 1405 and 1418.
The Mosque covers an area of 9419 square meters, and has two beautiful minarets each 40 meters high. The facade of its four-ivan court is decorated with brilliant mosaic tiling of the highest quality. The two stories of the arcaded rooms round the court are used for religious teaching and gathering. Behind the ivan one can see the Shrine’s golden dome and the two superb minarets. An inscription can be seen on the margin of the ivan portal. It was made upon the orders of well-known Timurid prince called Baysonqor Mirza. Also there is a pulpit of walnut wood here, which has been made without using any nail or iron pieces.
Sir Percy Sykes, soldier, diplomat and historian, describes it as the noblest mosque in Central Asia. A U Pope as called it the first and the greatest surviving Persian monument of the 15th Century.
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