Goripalayam Mosque - Madurai Tourism

Goripalayam, a muslim enclave, has existed in Madurai for many centuries. Some even be live that it existed before Malik Kafur came on a rampage to Madurai in the early 14th century. The name Goripalayam cames from the Persian word “Gor” meaning grave. It was called Goripalayam as it houses two graves of the famous two Islamic saints & rulers of Madurai – (ie) Hazarat Sulthan Alauddin Badshah & Hazarat Sultha Shamshuddin Badshah.
Built by Thirumalai Nayakar, the Goripalayam mosque is the biggest in Madurai. The mosque located on Azhagar koil road is famous for its stone pillars which are built in the Hindu architectural style. The dome is made of a single block of stone (70 feet in diameter & 20 feet in height). Followers of Islam come from all over Tamil Nadu to seek blessings here. An annual festival is conducted on the 15th Night of the Islamic month of Rabi-Al-Awwal every year. The two brothers who came to rule Madurai from Oman in the 13th century played an important role of spreading Islam. An ancient inscription can still be found outside the maqbara. It says in Tamil:

“…The decedents of Sulthan Alauddin Badshah & Sulthan Shamshuddin Badshah purchased from the then King Pandiyan the land of Goripalayam Dargah for gold & purchased six villages (Bibi Kulam, Chokkikulam, Cholikuddi, Chirudoor, Kannanendal & Thiruppalai) for 14,000 pieces of gold each..”
During the reign of the king Veerappa Nayakar, a dispute arose between the Huqdars of the Dargah & the employees of the Nayakar government regarding the six villages. However, King Veerappa verified that the land belonged to the decedents of the sultans, & will be theirs till the existence of the sun & the moon.