Mosque and Sarai of Ala Vardi Khan

This pair of buildings in Gurugram dates to the mid-18th century and was commissioned by Ala Vardi Khan, a Mughal noble with a part in governing the region. The mosque was meant for prayer and the sarai for travellers to rest, and similar mosque-and-inn pairs were raised at every eleventh mile along the route from Delhi to Ajmer.

The mosque follows Mughal convention, with a large prayer hall decorated in calligraphy and floral motifs, topped by domes and minarets. The sarai is arranged around wide courtyards entered through arched gateways. Red sandstone and white marble are used together across the complex, with carved detailing on both buildings.