Khirki Masjid: Delhi's Covered Mosque of Windows
Khirki Masjid is a 14th-century Tughlaq mosque in the Khirki village area of south Delhi, and it is unusual for being almost entirely roofed. A grid of low domes is pierced by the small latticed windows, the khirki, that give it its name, and light falls into just a few open courtyards while the rest stays in shadow and silence.
Parth.rkt · CC BY-SA 3.0In Hidden Gems in New Delhi · Khirki / Saket · Last updated 2 June 2026
- One of Delhi's rare covered mosques, roofed almost end to end rather than open to the sky
- Latticed stone windows, the khirki, that give the mosque its name and its filtered half-light
- Fortress-like Tughlaq architecture built in the reign of Feroz Shah Tughlaq
- Free to enter, atmospheric and almost always empty
What is Khirki Masjid
Khirki Masjid is a former mosque, now in partial ruins, in Khirki village near Satpula in south Delhi. It was built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the prime minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq, who ruled from 1351 to 1388, and it survives as a Monument of National Importance looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. From the outside it reads more like a fort than a place of worship, with thick sloping walls, tapering corner turrets and heavy stone gateways.
Its great oddity is the roof. Where most mosques of the period open onto a large sky-lit courtyard, Khirki Masjid is covered by a grid of low domes, and only four small courtyards are left open to let in daylight. The result is a labyrinth of shaded aisles and bays, with light filtering through the latticed windows that give the building its name. Inside it feels dim, geometric and quietly monumental.
Why Khirki Masjid stays a hidden gem
Most visitors to south Delhi head for the Qutub Minar or the tombs of the Lodi Gardens and never learn that a covered Tughlaq mosque sits tucked among the lanes of Khirki village. There is no crowd, no queue and little signage, so the building keeps the hush of an atmospheric ruin rather than the bustle of a monument on the tourist trail.
That emptiness is the reward. You can walk the shadowed aisles almost alone, watch the light shift through the stone windows and take in the strange, fortress-like geometry at your own pace. For anyone drawn to the quieter corners of Delhi's history, it is one of the most rewarding stops in the city.
Finding Khirki Masjid and getting in
The mosque stands in Khirki village, close to Saket and the Satpula dam, and can be approached from Satpula or from the seven-arched bridge on the edge of the southern wall of Jahanpanah. The nearest metro is on the Malviya Nagar and Saket side, from where a short auto-rickshaw ride brings you into the village lanes that lead to the entrance.
It is free to enter and generally open through the daylight hours. Because the interior is dim and partly ruined, sturdy shoes and a torch are useful, and the softer light of the morning or late afternoon shows the domes and windows at their best.
Know before you go
- Bring a torch, the covered interior is dim and only a few courtyards let in daylight.
- Wear sturdy shoes, parts of the mosque are ruined and the floors are uneven.
- Combine it with Satpula and the wider Jahanpanah area, all close by in south Delhi.
Where Khirki Masjid is
Tours and experiences near Khirki Masjid
Loading live experiences…
Experiences and prices provided by Viator. Booking completes on viator.com.
Where to stay near Khirki Masjid
Stay in Khirki / Saket to reach Khirki Masjid on foot. Compare live prices across 70+ booking sites, set by the partner, not by Buktrip.
Khirki Masjid: frequently asked questions
What is Khirki Masjid in Delhi?
Khirki Masjid is a 14th-century Tughlaq mosque in the Khirki village area of south Delhi. It is unusual for being almost entirely roofed, with a grid of low domes pierced by the latticed windows that give it its name.
Who built Khirki Masjid?
It was built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the prime minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq, who ruled from 1351 to 1388. It is now a Monument of National Importance administered by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Are there Khirki Masjid tickets or an entry fee?
No. Khirki Masjid is free to enter, so there are no tickets. You simply walk in during the daylight hours.
What are the Khirki Masjid opening hours?
The mosque is generally open through the daylight hours, roughly from about 7am to 6pm daily. Morning and late afternoon give the best light inside.
Is Khirki Masjid worth visiting?
Yes. As one of Delhi's rare covered mosques it is eerie, geometric and almost always empty, which makes it a rewarding and peaceful stop for anyone interested in the city's Tughlaq history.
More hidden gems in New Delhi
Sources and further reading: Wikipedia: Khirki Mosque.