Iconic Cheraman Masjid, India’s oldest, gets a makeover
The HinduThe Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor, the oldest mosque in the Indian subcontinent that dates back to 629 AD, and the Holy Cross Church at Chendamangalam built by Jesuit priests in 1577 AD, both of which were renovated under the Muziris Heritage Project, are getting ready to be opened to the public. On the renovation and conservation work worth ₹1.14 crore done on the historic mosque, he said the concrete structure that was added to the mosque in 1974 was demolished and the mosque rebuilt in its old style, as a two-tier structure whose tiled roof was supported by teakwood frames. “The mosque committee raised another ₹15 crore for well-ventilated prayer halls in the basement to accommodate approximately 3,000 people at a time in the masjid, based on a design submitted by conservation architect Benny Kuriakose. Holy Cross Church On the ₹2.23-crore renovation work on Holy Cross Church, Mr. Noushad said its roof was reinforced using teakwood, while the wall made of mud and lime was strengthened.