Written by: Anum Zaeem
Posted on: February 28, 2025 | 
Prayer hall of Bhong Mosque. (Picture credits to Dawn)
Hidden in a small town called Bhong, in Pakistan's Punjab area, sits a mosque so beautiful it takes your breath away. The Bhong Mosque isn't just a place where people pray, for it's like walking into a fairy tale, where every wall tells a story and every corner holds something wonderful to see.
Walking through the dusty streets of Rahim Yar Khan, you might not expect to find such a treasure. But then you see it, tall towers and shining domes that seem to touch the sky. "People often stop and stare when they first see it," says Hassan Mahmood, who has been showing visitors around the mosque for over 20 years. "They can hardly believe their eyes."
Bhong Mosque (Picture credits to Dawn)
What makes this mosque special is how it mixes different styles of building and art. It took almost 50 years to build (from 1932 to 1982), and it was all because one man, Rais Ghazi Mohammad, had a dream. He was a local landowner who wanted to create something truly special for his community.
Step inside, and you'll find yourself surrounded by colors and patterns everywhere you look. The walls shine with tiny mirrors, beautiful tiles made in Multan, and paintings that seem to come alive in the sunlight. Every little detail means something, from the repeating patterns that remind people of God's endless nature to the flower designs that show the beauty of the world.
Entrance to the mosque. (Picture credits to Dawn)
The main prayer room is the most impressive part. A huge crystal chandelier from Belgium hangs from the ceiling, spreading rainbow light across the floor. The prayer wall is covered in beautiful Arabic writing, and the raised platform where the imam stands, shows some of the finest woodwork you'll find anywhere in the region.
But what really makes the Bhong Mosque special is the story of the people who built it. "My grandfather worked on the tiles here," says Ustad Abdul Rehman, a local craftsman. "He used to tell me how Rais Ghazi Mohammad would spend hours with the workers, making sure every little detail was just right. This mosque wasn't built by rich rulers, but by common people for the people at large."
The mihrab at Bhong Mosque.
Workers came from all over South Asia to help build it: writers from Lahore, tile makers from Multan, mirror workers from Rajasthan, and wood carvers from Kashmir. Many of them liked the town so much that they stayed on, making Bhong a home for artists that continues today.
Whole Quran on single paper at Bhong Mosque. (Picture credits to Dawn)
Even though it's incredibly beautiful, not many people outside Pakistan know about the Bhong Mosque. "In some ways, that's good and bad," says Mahmood. "Good because it stays peaceful and real. Bad because more people should see how beautiful it is and how it brings people together."
The mosque isn't just for tourists, but is the heart of the community. Five times every day, people hear the call to prayer from its towers. During Ramadan, families gather in its big courtyard to break their fast together.
"What I love most is how the mosque looks different as the day goes by," says Zara Ahmed, who takes pictures of the mosque. "In the morning, the tiles sparkle like gems. At sunset, everything turns golden. And at night, when they turn on the chandelier, it's pure magic.
The world has taken notice of this amazing place. In 1986, the Bhong Mosque won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, one of the highest honors a building can receive in the Muslim world. The award judges were amazed by how the mosque blends different styles of art and architecture, while staying true to Islamic traditions. They especially praised how the building brings together local craftsmanship with designs from around the world.
"Winning the Aga Khan Award puts our small town on the world map," beams Mohammad Salim, a member of the mosque's management committee. "But what makes us even prouder is that UNESCO recognized our mosque as a World Heritage Site in 2019. It means this beautiful place we built will be protected and cherished for generations to come."
These awards have helped more people learn about the mosque, but they haven't changed its humble spirit. The building was also given Pakistan's highest heritage award, the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance, recognizing not just the building itself but the entire community that helped create and maintain it.
Windows in the prayer hall.
The Bhong Mosque shows us that beautiful things can grow in unexpected places. It's proof of what people can build when they work together with faith and dedication. In a world where people often focus on their differences, this mosque reminds us that beautiful things can bring us all together.
As the sun goes down in Rahim Yar Khan, casting shadows through the mosque's windows, you can't help but feel the magic of this place. It's more than just a building, but a bridge between earth and sky, a reminder of what humans can create when they dream big, and proof that sometimes the most amazing things are found in the most ordinary places.
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