The Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii) Bursa's Ulu Cami, also known as "The Grand Mosque", is a historic structure dating back to the late 14th century. Commissioned by Yıldırım Bayezid between 1396-99 after his triumph at Nicopolis, this mosque was built as an expression of gratitude. Initially, Bayezid intended to construct 20 smaller masjids throughout the city. However, his mentor, Emir Sultan, suggested he focus on creating one magnificent mosque instead. As a result, the Grand Mosque stands as the largest example of Ottoman-style multi-domed architecture and is revered as one of the holiest sites in Islam, ranking fifth after Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, and Damascus. The Grand Mosque follows a rectangular layout and has three entrances—one on each of its eastern, western, and northern sides. The northern entrance, constructed from marble, is more elaborate compared to the other two. Inside the mosque, visitors can admire intricate calligraphy, stunning stained glass windows, and over 200 monumental columns that support the mosque's 20 domes. The mosque's central dome is the largest, resting on four massive pillars. Additionally, the mosque includes a fountain and a spacious courtyard that can accommodate thousands of worshippers. The mosque, with its impressive 20 domes each spanning 11 meters in diameter, is supported by arches and pendatives. Inside, there are 12 pillars that line the square-shaped walls, and a central dome measuring 17x17 meters, covered in glass. Beneath this glass dome, at the heart of the mosque, lies a fountain with 16 individual compartments designed for hand washing before prayers. The walls are beautifully decorated with 129 inscriptions from famous calligraphers like Abdulfettah Efendi, Mustafa Izzet Efendi, Sami Efendi, and Sheik Effendi, each demonstrating different styles of calligraphy. These inscriptions include the 99 names of Allah, written in both "celi sulus" and "kufi" scripts, which can be found on all the mosque's pillars. Additionally, Sultan Mahmud II personally contributed a calligraphic inscription to the mosque's design. The mosque's pulpit was crafted using the intricate "kundekari" technique, which requires no nails or other fastening materials, making it a unique and impressive work of art. It was built by Hadji Muhammed bin Abdulaziz bin Ibnu’d-Devaki. The eastern and western reliefs on the pulpit depict the solar system and the Milky Way galaxy, respectively. Above the pulpit's door, an epitaph plaque confirms that the mosque was completed in 1399 by the command of Yıldırım Beyazid. The mosque also features Vav ‘و’ shapes and tulip motifs, symbolizing Allah (cc), present in every corner of the structure. If you have any questions or need more information about The Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii), feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.