Back in January 2009, an almost 40-year-old mosque in Kondivare village, in Ratnagiri’s Sangameshwar taluka, had begun to develop cracks. That’s when it was decided that the existing structure should be demolished to make way for a new mosque.

One look at this newly built mosque, and the effort and the inspiration that went into building this magnificent structure becomes clear. One notices familiar slants of Islamic architecture on its outer façade and interiors including the chandeliers, minarets, mihrab (a semicircle niche in the mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca). A local architect, Amol Patankar from Renukalp Creations, designed this mosque that is spread over 5,000 sq ft. There are special arrangements for women to pray the namaz here as well.

Located midway on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, it is part of the Ratnagiri district in the Konkan belt. The village comprises of around 200 families, predominantly Muslims, where most men serve in the merchant navy. The village is also known for Darul Uloom Imam Ahmed Raza, one of the biggest madrasas in India that caters to over 1,500 students.