Drive Thru Mosque

The picture from September 2006 is showing the five remaining minarets of the Musalla ('Prayer Ground' in Arabic) Complex of Gohar Shad in Herat, Afghanistan. Formerly this complex comprised of a Friday Mosque, madrassa and mausoleum and a set of thirty minarets (built between 1417 and 1438). It is rather sad to note that a four lane road is now passing through (thru) the once beautiful with elaborated mosaic tilework decorated minarets.

See also Lord Byron's photos from 1933/34, who described the Gohar Shad Musalla as "the most beautiful example in colour in architecture ever devised by man to the glory of his God and himself."