Visit The Siddi Sayed Mosque: The Most Famous Mosque in Ahmedabad (2024)
The Siddi Sayed Mosque is one of the most famous mosques in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It dates back to the 1500s, and locals also call it the Sidi Sayyid ni Jali. The exact address for Siddi Sayed Mosque is Bhadra Road, Opposite Electricity House, Gheekanta, Lal Darwaja, Old City, Ahmedabad.
Siddi Sayed Mosque Experience
The Siddi Sayed Mosque is smaller, compared to the other mosques in Ahmedabad, like the Jama Masjid. The general color here is light brown. The tree of life latticework on one of the window sills of Siddi Sayed Mosque is one of the more famous architecture in this area. While the tree of life design might be the most popular, you will see other such intricate designs at different locations of the mosque. The tree of life design is so popular that IIM Ahmedabad has adopted it as its logo. The mosque is of yellow sandstone.
Experts concede that all the window carvings are from a single stone, which was first broken down and then set together. The identity of the artisans and the process of making the window carvings is one of the many mysteries we come across while learning about India’s history and culture. Work on some of the windows was incomplete because of political issues at that time. Some conspiracy theories say that the windows remained undone because the entire mosque was sold, which isn’t the case. 
The mosque’s architecture is similar to the other structures that date back to the 1500s. The mosque has several pillars and a flat roof. The construction of the mosque took place in the year before the fall of the Gujarat Sultanate. You will see many consistencies with Mughal architecture at the Siddi Sayed Mosque.
The Siddi Sayed Mosque has the main entrance that almost hides the domes that are a staple of the mosques in other parts of the country.
The Siddi Sayed Mosque stands out among all the others in the area because it is not white, and the arches at the entrance hide the domes to an extent. There’s a water body inside the mosque, possibly for the religious ablutions.
Siddi Sayed Mosque History
The Siddi Sayed mosque has an interesting history. Sheikh Abbas, its original builder, died before the completion of the building. His tomb exists in the mosque. Later on, Siddi Sayed completed the work of building the mosque. During British rule, the premises became a Government office for a while. However, under Lord Curzon, the offices relocated, and the mosque regained its lost place. Today, the Siddi Sayed mosque is active, and Muslims offer five times namaaz here.
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You can spend about an hour at the Siddi Sayed mosque and explore it. There will be some rules and regulations about who can enter the mosque, so try to ask the locals or the caretaker if there is one. Also, since this is a religious place, dress appropriately so that you don’t seem out of place. A pro tip, a few years ago, it was common for men who wore shorts and Bermudas to be not allowed to enter Siddi Sayed Mosque and the Jama Masjid, which is also in Gujarat. and it became a news article as well. There are no specific rules for selfies, photos, and videography, but again, try to ask the caretaker about what’s allowed and what’s not.
Hotels Near Siddi Sayed Mosque
Ahmedabad is a tourist hub, and you will find several hotels that offer accommodation for all budgets. The hotels near Siddi Sayed Mosque start from about 1300 INR and then go up to 4000 INR. The other hotels close to Siddi Sayed Mosque are the Novotel Ahmedabad, Fortune Park, The House of MG, The Lemon Tree Premier, and the Hotel Volga. At the time of writing, Hotel Volga offered its rooms at a discounted price, at about 1000 INR. You also have the Hotel Alka Inn near the Siddi Sayed Mosque, which offers rooms at around 600 INR at the time of writing this article.
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One concept that is gaining popularity are dormitories near Siddi Sayed Mosque. The dormitories are super-economical options and offer you a cot and a place to store your valuables. Some dormitories are air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned. There’s a flip side to this, though. Some of the dormitories don’t offer food options and might have a set time that you have to return. The dormitories are the best option for big groups and anyone looking to travel on a budget.
Places to Visit Near Siddi Sayed Mosque
The Siddi Sayed Mosque is in Ahmedabad, a city that has several places of religious and tourist importance. Ahmedabad in Gujarat is also close to the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Sabarmati, and is also home to Dwarka, the Kingdom of Lord Shiva. So, there are several destinations here that play an important role in their lives and connect to Indian mythology as well as the historical Freedom Struggle. The Sabarmati River is about two hours away from the Siddi Sayed Mosque. Here, you can see the Sabarmati Ashram, the birthplace of the Indian Freedom Struggle, according to experts. The ISKCON Temple is about half an hour away from the Siddi Sayyed Mosque.
How to Reach Siddi Sayed Mosque?
Reaching Ahmedabad is easy, given that it is a tourist and business hub in Gujarat. You can travel to Ahmedabad via road, train, and flight. Ahmedabad has an international airport, the Sardar Vallabhai Patel international airport. Ahmedabad airport connects well with most other cities and states in the country and abroad, including Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi. Ahmedabad is on the NH8. You have several private buses running on this route, as well as the state transport buses.
