Chol Gala Mosque
Former mosque in Shusha, Azerbaijan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Chol Gala Mosque (Azerbaijani: Çöl Qala məscidi, sometimes also transliterated as Chol Qala Mosque) is a Shia Islam mosque located in Shusha, in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, about 350 km (220 mi) southwest from Baku, the Azerbaijani capital.[1]
| Chol Gala Mosque | |
|---|---|
Azerbaijani: Çöl Qala Məscidi | |
| |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shia Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Municipality | Shusha, Shusha District, Karabakh Economic Region |
| Country | Azerbaijan |
  Location of the mosque in Azerbaijan | |
| Coordinates | 39°45′50″N 46°45′09″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Islamic |
| Established | 18th century |
Overview
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The former mosque is located on G. Zakir street of the Chol Gala neighborhood of Shusha.[2] The Chol Gala neighbourhood is one of nine lower and earlier neighbourhoods of Shusha.[3] The Chol Gala Mosque was one of the seventeen mosques functioning in Shusha by the end of the 19th century.[4][5]
There were no minarets and the exterior design of the Chol Gala Mosque followed a rectangular plan neighborhood mosque building, with the interior completely complying with Islamic religious architecture. There was a three-nave prayer hall in the mosque.[6] The Chol Gala spring by the mosque supplied the neighbourhood with mineral water. The former mosque was among the most valuable monuments of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shusha State Historical and Architectural Reserve.[7]
Restoration
In 2023, the restoration of Chol Gala Mosque was started, overseen by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and supported by Pasha Holding.[8][9] On March 27, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the official reopening ceremony of the historic Chol Gala Mosque in Shusha, following a comprehensive restoration process. The event also marked the restoration of the mosque's adjacent spring,[10]
