Moorish Mosque, Kapurthala

The Moorish Mosque in Kapurthala is a striking departure from conventional South Asian mosque architecture, its design directly inspired by the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh, Morocco, reflecting the eclectic international architectural tastes of Kapurthala's ruling family. The mosque's horseshoe arches, minaret and overall North African aesthetic make it one of the most visually unusual religious buildings anywhere in Punjab.

Built to serve the local Muslim community under the patronage of Kapurthala's maharaja, the mosque remains an active place of worship, its striking, unconventional architecture giving Kapurthala a further distinctive heritage landmark alongside the town's better-known Jagatjit Palace.

Commissioned by Maharaja Jagatjit Singh in the early 20th century and modelled specifically on the Koutoubia Mosque of Marrakesh, the Moorish Mosque reflects the ruler's broader personal fascination with international architectural styles, evident throughout Kapurthala's unusually cosmopolitan built heritage.

In central Kapurthala, easily reached by road.