The siddipet district of telangana is home to a remarkable mosque from the Qutb Shahi era (1518–1687) that is in danger of crumbling because of neglect. The renowned brothers and pastors Akkanna-Madanna constructed the Salandri Masjid in the seventeenth century, and it is on the verge of being forgotten. It's crucial to remember that the mosque is situated on temple property!
 
The Salandri Masjid is situated in Salandri village, Chinnakodur mandal, siddipet district, approximately 110 kilometers from Hyderabad. In telangana, the mosque has a Sarai (stepwell) and is situated on the grounds of the Ramalingeshwara temple.

In July 2024, realtors demolished the old Jagirdar Masjid in Moinabad's Chikur hamlet, which served as a wake-up call for activists and lawmakers.  Regretfully, the Qutub Shahi dynasty's centuries-old architectural legacy was demolished.
 
Hyderabad was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth monarch of the Qutb Shahi empire, which was established in 1518. At one time, the kingdom ruled over what are now the states of Andhra Pradesh, telangana, and portions of northern tamil Nadu.

The mosque behind the stepwell complex in Salandri
 
 During the final Qutb Shahi sultan Abul Hasan (1672-1687), Madanna, the prime minister, and Akkanna, the peshkar (chief secretary), are said to have frequently passed from that road with their army.  According to history, the Sarai was constructed in this beautiful setting so that travelers might relax, take a bath, and quench their thirst before continuing on their journey.
 
 They gave the sarai the name "Chalivendram," which means "where one can quench one's thirst," and this eventually evolved into "Salandri."  The stepwell has rooms for changing clothing, and one of the rooms has a shiva linga.  Shiva lingas were also housed in a few other temples constructed in the medieval style behind the stepwell.
 
The mosque is situated on an elevated platform on the stepwell's northern side.  "Back then, the rulers would travel in Dandu Baata, which is the route a military unit takes when traveling."  Such stepwells with telangana mosques and temples were constructed for every 10 miles of the road.  Historian D Satyanarayana described the stepwell as "unique in architecture," stating that temples were built beside mosques for the soldiers to conduct prayers because the army was made up of both Muslims and Hindus.

It is a stunning mosque with two minarets on the front side that was constructed using lime mortar and stones arranged like bricks in the Qutub Shahi architectural style.  The Jagirdar masjid and several mosques constructed during the Qutub Shahi dynasty bear a striking resemblance to the Salandri mosque.
 
 The mosque's structural stability is being threatened by a massive peepal tree that has grown out of the back wall.
 

 
 
 
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SIBY JEYYA

10/03/2025 09:13 AM