Thrissur: The 1,400-year-old Cheraman Juma
Masjid in Kodungalloor near here, considered to be India's
oldest mosque, will soon receive a face-lift at an estimated
cost of Rs 10 crore.
The soil examination for the project was held today and
the reconstruction work will commence in the first week of
September, Masjid President, PA Muhammed Sayed, told
reporters here.
The renovated mosque will have two underground prayer
halls, each with 14,896 sq feet area, with a capacity to
accommodate over 3,000 people, he said.
Once the renovation of the mosque -- built in 629 AD --
is completed, it will be the first mosque in the country with
underground prayer halls, Sayed said.
On an average, 1,000 tourists, including foreigners,
visit the mosque daily.
The renovation will be carried out in four phases, with
the first phase expected to be completed in a year's time,
mosque Administrator EB Faizal said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 18:00