Eid 2025 | The Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kodungallur, Kerala, is a remarkable specimen of India's far reaching cultural and historical legacy. Founded in 629 CE by the Persian scholar and explorer Malik Bin Dinar, the mosque is often regarded as the first mosque in the entire Indian subcontinent. It is also credited as the world's second oldest mosque to hold juma, or the congregational Friday prayer in Islam.
As a relief to historical preservation, recent improvements of no little significance to this ancient mosque have brought back its former architectural splendour, drawing attention from historians, tourists and devotees. Outlook Traveller delves into the details of this mosque in Kerala, and outlines all that one needs to know before visiting.