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==== Islamic Architecture ====
[[File:Mithqalpalli Mosque - Kozhikode - Kerala 02.JPG|thumb|300px|right| The Mithqalpalli in Kozhikode is a classic example of Kerala's native Mosque style with gabled roofs, slopped wooden window panels and without minarets]]
The Arab world, the cradle of Islam also had trade contact with Kerala coast from very early times. As tradition goes, a Chera King, Cheraman Perumal embraced Islam and made a voyage to Mecca. In his return trip accompanied by many Islamic religious leaders including Malik Ibn Dinar, he fell sick and passed away. But he had given introductory letters for the party to proceed to Musiris, the Cera capital. The visitors came to Muziris and handed over the letter to the reigning King who treated the guests with all respect and extended facilities to establish their faith in the land. The king arranged for the artisans to build the first mosque at Kodungallur near the port and ear-marked the area around it for their settlement. The original mosque has undergone extensive repairs, but the traces of the original construction are seen in the plinth, the columns and the roof which are in the old traditional styles of Hindu temples.▼
[[Image:ThazhathangadyJumaMasjid1.JPG|thumb|200px|right|An example of traditional Kerala style of Mosque at Thazhathangady in Kottayam]]
▲The Arab world, the cradle of Islam also had trade contact with Kerala coast from very early times. As tradition goes, a Chera King, Cheraman Perumal embraced Islam and made a voyage to Mecca. In his return trip accompanied by many Islamic religious leaders including Malik Ibn Dinar, he fell sick and passed away. But he had given introductory letters for the party to proceed to Musiris, the Cera capital. The visitors came to Muziris and handed over the letter to the reigning King who treated the guests with all respect and extended facilities to establish their faith in the land. The king arranged for the artisans to build the first mosque at Kodungallur near the port and ear-marked the area around it for their settlement. The original mosque has undergone extensive repairs, but the traces of the original construction are seen in the plinth, the columns and the roof which are in the old traditional styles of Hindu temples.
Undoubtedly Islam spread in Kerala through the migration of new groups from Arabia and the gradual conversion of native population in the permissive social set up of Kerala. By twelfth century A.D there were at least ten major settlements of Muslims distributed from Kollam in the south to Mangalore in the north each centered around the mosque. Also a branch of the ruling kingdom at Arakkal, Kannur was converted to Islam. The primacy in trade, the spread of the faith and the experience of the sea made Muslims a prominent class and dear to the rulers, especially of the Kozhikode Zamorins. Consequently by fifteenth century Islamic constructions reached considerable heights.
[[File:Muchundi Mosque.JPG|thumb|200px|right|The Muchundi Mosque with classic Kerala styles]]
The mosque architecture of Kerala exhibits none of the features of the Arabic style nor those of the Indo-Islamic architectures of the imperial or provincial school in north India. The reason for this is not far to seek. The work of mosque construction was done by the local artisans under instructions of the Muslim religious heads who wanted to erect the places of worship. The models for places of worship were only temples or the theatre halls (koothambalam) and these models are to be adapted for the new situations. The early mosques in Kerala consequently resemble the traditional building of the region.
[[File:MiskalMosque.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Miskal Mosque has 3 storied gabled roofs with windows which offers an alternative to minarets in traditional Kerala style]] In plan the mosque comprises of a large prayer hall with a mihrab on the western wall and covered verandah all around. Generally it has a tall basement similar to the adhistana of the Brahmanical temple and often the columns are treated with square and octagonal section as in mandapa pillars. The walls are made of laterite blocks. The arch form is seen only in one exceptional case for the mosque at Ponnani and nowhere else in the early ten mosques of the land. Wood was used extensively in superstructure for the construction of ceiling and roof. The roof in many cases is covered with sheets of copper incorporating fenials in the ridge, completing the form of temple sikhara with the stupi. At Tanur the Jama Masjid even has a gate built in the manner of temple gopuram, covered with copper sheeting. This mosque itself is a three storeyed building with tiled roof crowned by five fenials. [[File:New cheraman masjid.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Cheraman Mosque, which is World's second and sub-continent;s first mosque was originally built in Kerala style, which was renovated recently to give Arabic touch]]
The pulpit in the mosque present the best example of wood carvings associated with Islamic architecture of Kerala. The Jama Masjid at Beypore and Mithqal Mosque at Kozhikode have the pulpit (mimbar) built by the ship masters of the Arab vessels.
[[File:Mvc-020s.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Kannur Mosque symbolizes the slow transit from Kerala style to Persian style with additions of Minarets and other classical Persian features in traditional Kerala style]]
All other construction work was done by the same local craftsmen who were building the temples and residences. The Arabic tradition of simplicity of plan had perhaps combined itself with the indigenous construction techniques giving rise to the unique style of mosque architecture, not found anywhere else in the world. In contrast the Indo-Islamic architecture drew its inspiration from the Turkish and Persian traditions and created highly ornamental style in the north India. The typical Kerala mosques are seen at Kollampalli, near Kollam, Panthalayani near Koilandy, Kozhikode, Thanur, Ponnani and Kasargode as well as in most old Muslim settlements. The austere architectural features of the old mosques are however in the process of being replaced in recent times. The use of arcuated forms, domes and minar-minarets of the imperial school of Indo-Islamic architecture are being projected as the visible symbols of Islamic culture. The Jama Masjid at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram is the classic example of this new trend. Similar structures are coming up all over Kerala in the modification of old mosques during the last decades.
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