Nasir Al Mulk Mosque is located in Shiraz, Iran and was built between 1876 and 1888 during the Qajar Dynasty. It took the builders 12 years to complete this structure. Nasir Al Mulk is also known as the Pink Mosque, the Colorful Mosque, the Rainbow Mosque and the Kaleidoscopic Mosque.
The exterior of the church has many similarities to other traditional Islamic architecture.
Nasir Al Mulk has many similarities with other traditional Islamic architecture such as the high dome, ancient stone walls and the central fountain where the Islamic ritual of ablution takes place. But when you step inside, you will see the unique beauty, the complete difference.
Nasir Al Mulk Mosque was built over a period of 12 years, from 1876-1888, under the orders of the Qajar dynasty warlord Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir Al Molk.
Persian architects used specific geometry and proportions to design the ceiling of this mosque. This resulted in the Nasir Al Mulk Mosque’s ceiling, which is a vibrant mix of purple, orange, blue and purple.
When the first rays of sunlight penetrated the window and shone down the hallway, the whole room was like a giant kaleidoscope, shimmering with colors.
Not only does it have colorful windows, Nasir Al Mulk also has elaborately and delicately decorated walls. Millions of colored tiles create brilliant patterns on the domes and wall niches. The most beautiful moment here is usually between 7 and 9 am, when the first rays of sunlight pass through the glass windows and shine down on the corridors and on the Persian carpets, creating a mesmerizing scene. The entire mosque becomes bright and sparkling, as if every visitor is amazed by its brilliant beauty.
The tiles form beautiful patterns, typical of Islamic culture, both brilliant and attractive.
It is the interior design features made of stained glass that makes Nasir Al Mulk become the most beautiful mosque in the world. The two architects Muhammad Hasan-e-Memar and Muhammad Reza Kashi Paz-e-Shirazi decorated the mosque with thousands of brilliant stained glass panels - a rare material in a mosque. The use of stained glass windows in Islamic buildings is relatively rare. Some other rare buildings that also use stained glass include: Blue Mosque in Istanbul (Türkiye) and Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Nasir al Mulk Mosque has an incredibly magical space
Shiraz is the ancient capital of the Persian dynasty thousands of years ago. Iranians proudly call Shiraz the city of wine and flowers, a symbol of music and poetry with works of art such as the beautiful green flower garden Eram Garden, the marble tombs of the great poets Hafez and Saadi, or the giant Vakil complex embracing the Vakil mosque and Vakil Bazaar.
The mosque is one of the national heritages and is also the top tourist attraction in Iran. Nasir Al Mulk attracts a lot of tourists to visit, if you are a woman you do not need to wear hijab (head and chest scarf), but you still need to dress modestly and cover your head like everywhere else in Iran.
Nasir al Mulk Mosque has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iran today, thanks to the splendor of its colorful windows and the uniqueness of its architecture.
Coming to Nasir Al Mulk Mosque is like entering a magical, shimmering world in fairy tales. Currently, Nasir Al Mulk Mosque is still operating to serve the religious needs of the people as well as open to tourists and is currently one of the top tourist attractions in Iran.
