Chempittapally

Chempittapally is an old masjid in West Kochi in Kerala State, India. The name "Chempittapally" is derived from the Malayalam word "chemp" or "chemb" (means copper) and "palli" (means masjid). The roof of this famous masjid was decorated with copper tiles, hence chempitta pally. The compound has 3 gates; one in west which opens way to Panayapilly, second in south which opens way to Goldenmukku and Kochangadi, and the main gate in the eastern side of compound, which opens way to Angadi, which in turn leads the way to Jew Street and Mattancherry Bazaar towards the north and to Chullickal towards south. The graveyard near the gate towards the south houses a few old and important gravestones. The support beams of the masjid are made of wood. Legend has it that a Jewish merchant who overheard the Sufi Saint Syed Mau Lana Bukhari Thangal reciting the Old Testament to his followers, decided to donate the timber for the construction of this mosque. The Tamil and Arabic inscriptions right above the three doors which leads to the central prayer hall.