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The Deval Masjid was, as its name signifies,
originally a Hindu temple and was converted into a mosque by
Muhammad-bin-Tughluq at the time of conquest of the Deccan. It is located
in Bodhan Taluk of Nizamabad
district. The plan of the building is star-shaped; it has undergone no
alternation at the hands of the conquerors excepting the removal of the
shrine-chamber and the setting up of a pulpit.
There are two inscriptions of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq in the mosque. The
original arrangement of the pillars remains undisturbed and the figures of
Tirthankaras may be noticed on some of them even to this day. This leads
us to infer that the structure converted into a mosque by
Muhammad-bin-Tughluq must have been a Jain temple. This as well as the
discovery of few Jain images strewn all over the place there indicate that
Bodhan was probably once a centre of Jainism.
Rail: Bodhan is 32-km west of
Nizamabad town. Nizamabad has a railway station.
Road: There are buses from Nizamabad to Bodhan. Taxis are also
available.
Accomodation is available at the hotels in Nizamabad.