From the archive record
Muslim devotees visit Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad. Mecca Masjid, also Makkah Masjid, is one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad in India, And it is one of the largest Mosques in India. It is located in the common capital area shared between the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building in the old city of Hyderabad, close to the historic landmarks of Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar, and Charminar. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam, and used them in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name. It formed the centerpiece around which the city was planned by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. Makkah Mas