Conserving and preserving historic places of worship is important. They reflect the traditions, rituals and ways of life that existed in the older times. This is even important for historic destinations such as Alappuzha; the reason why the Alappuzha Heritage Project is in place. One of the iconic structures that is being preserved under this project is Saukar Masjid, one of Alappuzha’s oldest mosques. The mosque stands a testimony to Turkish and Eastern European architectural styles that existed during the time of its construction.
The Masjid is over 250 years old and was erected by the Halayi Momens, a Muslim community who migrated from Gujarat. Members of this community used to visit Kerala for business purposes during the period when Raja Karthika Thirunal was the king of Travancore. The mosque was built on a land that was granted to the Halayi Momens by Raja Keshavadas who was the Diwan of Travancore. With the passage of time, several modifications were made to the building. As a part of the conservation project, the roof and the structure was restored to the past glory. The timely restoration of the mosque helped to preserve its rich history and heritage and also resulted in the upliftment of the neighbourhood.
