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Saukar Masjid
The Saukar Masjid is a mosque in the Alappuzha district, in the state of Kerala, India. Completed in 1850, the mosque is an historically important structure in the Alappuzha district. The original mosque building was renovated in 2022 under the Alappuzha Heritage Project of Government of Kerala. HistoryAlappuzha was an important commercial and industrial centre in medieval Kerala. Raja Kesava Das, the Diwan of Travancore, known as the 'creator of modern Alappuzha', made Alappuzha a major port city of Travancore.[2] To improve the spice trade, the Diwan built many roads, canals, and warehouses.[2] Traders and businessmen from throughout India, including Kachi memans, Gujarati Muslims, and Pathans, came Alappuzha in search of employment and market. Many Gujarati Muslim families were invited from Bombay and settled at the initiative of the Diwan.[3] The Diwan had also allotted sites to build places of worship. The Saukar Masjid was built on a land granted by Raja Kesava Das in 1850 to the Halai Memon community who came from Porbandar in Gujarat.[4] LocationSaukar Masjid is located in Alappuzha municipality, approximately 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) from the Alappuzha Bus Stand and approximately 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the Alappuzha railway station.[5] ArchitectureThe Saukar Masjid an historically important structure in Alappuzha. The mosque was built in the Ottoman and Eastern European architectural styles that prevailed at the time of its construction.[5] Considering its age and architectural features, restoration work was carried out as part of the Alappuzha Heritage Project in 2022[6] and the mosque was converted into a protected place[clarification needed] of worship by the Kerala Government.[4][7] See alsoReferences
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