Jamia Masjid Bhera: Architecture and Decorative Motifs

Abstract

Jamia Masjid Bhera was constructed by the Suri's Sher Shah Suri in 1540 CE and is one of the best preserved pre-Mughal Islamic structures in Punjab, Pakistan. It is locally known as Badshahi Masjid of Bhera, and is not only remarkable for its architectural majesty, but also for the extraordinary richness of its interior decorative Program, with its three white onion domes, pointed arches, ornate gateway, and flanking minarets. The frescoes on its dome, the stucco carvings on its mihrab, the carvings on its spandrels, the bands of calligraphy, and the floral patterns in tile work are a complete visual library of Islamic decorative art. This study in the Bhera Heritage Series, offered an architectural survey of the mosque, systematically analyses its decorative motifs according to their pattern families, cultural sources, and visual grammar and suggests specific practical proposals for its re-appropriation for creative use in textile and surface design in a modern context. The study is based on anthropological fieldwork and visual analysis of the photographic documentation collected in the field.