Image from Flickr is by Kerim.


Image from Panoramio is by Yamarhythm.

The minarets of this mosque have the remarkable feature that if one of the minarets is shaken then within few seconds other also begins to shake. One explanation for this phenomena is that the vibrations at the base of tower gets amplified and are transmitted through air tunnels between the two towers resulting in shaking of other tower. Surprisingly, no tremble is felt in the connecting passageway between the two minarets.

Each minaret is about 21 metres high and has three stories which have delicately carved stone balconies.

The mosque and the minarets were built in 1461 but reason for this design is uncertain. It is believed that such design was adopted to avoid damages during earthquakes.

Another mosque in the town known as Raj Bibi Mosque also had a pair of shaking minarets. Reportedly the Britishers, who were ruling India that time, dismantled one minaret in order to study the secret of its construction and the mystery behind the swinging effect.

There is another such tower Monar-e-Jonban (meaning Shaking Minaret) in Isfahan, Iran but it is not as remarkable as this in Ahmedabad.
Info source: Wikipedia.

This is fascinating, JM! I had never heard of these. I wonder if the Brits ever figured out how they were constructed. Do you know if any modern engineers have investigated the minarets? I would bet that some element of their construction is used today in new "shaking buildings" where earthquakes are common.

Regards, Diane

Thank you Diane for your encouraging words.

Unfortunately I could not find any info on the Net whether the Brits were able to find the reason or not. I have never been to Ahmedabad. I did ask few people who have to been to that place but could not get a satisfactory reply.

I will try to check with locals and will revert if I get some info.