Located north of the Ahmedabad Junction railway station in Gujarat, India, the Sidi Bashir Mosque offers you a chance to see a fascinating Monument of National Importance. Today, this former Sufi mosque stands in partial ruins after its main body was destroyed in 1753 during conflict between the Marathas and Jawān Mard Khān. What remains for you to admire is the central gateway and two three-storey minarets, collectively famous as the Jhulta Minar or Shaking Minarets.
Built around the 15th or early 16th century—possibly by Sidi Bashir or Malik Sarang—these tallest minarets in Ahmedabad showcase striking Indo-Islamic architecture with carved balconies and intricate designs. The real draw is the unsolved engineering mystery: gently shaking one minaret causes the other to vibrate just seconds later, while the connecting passage stays still. First observed by English scholar Monier M.
Williams in the 19th century, this peculiar phenomenon may be linked to the structure's layered construction, and popular belief suggests it was designed to detect early earthquake signals. Though damaged over time, these resilient structures even withstand the vibrations of fast-moving trains passing nearby.
What to see at Sidi Bashir Mosque
- Marvel at the 15th-century Indo-Islamic architecture featuring intricate carvings and three-storey minarets.
- Learn about the mystery of the Jhulta Minar, where shaking one minaret causes the other to vibrate.
- View the central gateway and the tallest minarets in Ahmedabad, designated a Monument of National Importance.
- Discover historical ruins surviving from the 1753 conflict between the Marathas and Jawān Mard Khān.
Visiting tips
Keep in mind that public entry inside the minarets is prohibited due to upper section damage and safety measures following a 1981 stampede in Delhi.
How long: 1 hour · Best time: Morning
How to get there & what’s nearby
Sidi Bashir Mosque is easy to reach on Ahmedabad’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Sabarmati Ashram and Sidi Saiyyed Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Ahmedabad travel guide.
See the full Ahmedabad travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.