Mecca Masjid
The grey domes of the Mecca Masjid are clearly visible from the Charminar. This mosque is one of the largest in India and can accommodate ten thousand people at a time. The five arched facades of the mosque lead into a huge hallway that has the prayer niche on the Western side. This was carved out of a single piece of granite, which took five years to dig and 1400 oxen to transport. The large courtyard holds a cistern at one end, flanked by two stone slab seats. The popular belief is that visitors who sit on these slabs will definitely return to Hyderabad. Its construction was started by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah in 1617, continued through the reign of the next two kings Abdullah Qutub Shah and Abdul Hasan Tana Shah, and was finally completed under the orders of the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb in 1694.

One of the rooms of the courtyard is said to contain the hair of the Prophet Mohammed and other Islamic relics. The mosque over the years has come to be known as Mecca Masjid, as it is believed that Muhammad Qutub Shah brought back some earth from Mecca, and had this made into bricks which were inserted over the central arch. These red bricks are visible at different points over the main arch.

To the left of the courtyard is a long hall where the Nizams and some of the Asafia royal family member

How to Reach
The Masjid is about 4 km from Hyderabad railway station, 2 km from Hyderabad Bus station and 16 kms from Airport. A P Road transport buses and private transport is available from all parts of the twin-cities