Sidi Saiyyed Mosque

The basics

Ahmedabad’s Old Town contains several beautiful mosques, but Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is the pick of the bunch for architecture enthusiasts. The carved stone screens, resembling lace, are a testament to the architectural prowess of members of the African diaspora in late-medieval India.

The mosque is an active site of worship but anyone can enter, or you can view the screens from the road outside. It’s easy to visit independently, or you can join a vehicle or walking tour, the latter of which is a good way of navigating this dense and interesting part of Ahmedabad.

Things to know before you go

• It’s free to visit the mosque.

• Remove your shoes and leave them in the designated areas before entering the building.

• Women aren’t allowed to enter the main prayer hall.

• Visitors of all genders should dress modestly, and women should take a scarf to drape over their head.

How to get there

Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is just west of Ahmedabad’s Old Town, east of the Sabarmati River. It’s easy to find if you’re coming from or to the western side of the city as it’s at the end of the road leading to the Nehru Bridge across the river. Taxi and auto rickshaw drivers will know where to find it.

When to get there

The mosque is open 24 hours a day but it’s best to visit during daylight. Friday is the Islamic day of worship, so casual visitors should avoid visiting then as it’s not a very large place. Similarly, avoid visiting during prayer times on other days of the week. You can still admire the building from outside at these times.

Visit Ahmedabad’s Jama Masjid

East of the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, deep within Ahmedabad’s Old Town, is the city’s “main” mosque, the 15th-century Jama Masjid. The architectural style in Gujarat is very different from the Islamic architecture of Delhi as it developed somewhat independently.