Amidst the hustle and bustle of vibrant bazaars, colourful shops and small tea stalls, I came across the striking and magical Ilyasi Masjid in Abbotabad.

For a moment I could not take my eyes off the mosque with its white glittering magnificence, architectural beauty and imposing structure. I am sure that if you would have been there, you too would have been enchanted by it’s mesmerising, mystic and spell binding aura.

I was in a trance, a feeling that I had never experienced before. When I entered the mosque through a small gateway, I saw people sitting around with their eyes fixed on its facade, admiring its beauty and praying to God Almighty.

The air was full of a sense of peace and tranquility, soothing the people who had come there to offer their prayers. As I strolled towards the front area of the mosque I was captivated by an unidentifiable force. Located there was a pond with fountains as high as hills. A small part held the ablution area.

Before me stood the glittering white snowy structure of the mosque. It seemed as if the entire facade was covered with snow like the high peaks of the surrounding areas. The exterior of the mosque has exquisite carvings that artists seem to have made out of sheer respect and love.

Water from the ancient natural spring of Ilyasi Masjid is said to possess healing powers

Actually I was in search of something else there, something which my mother had told me to look for. A natural water spring which had been there since ages.

As I made my way up the staircase, I saw a stream of water coming out of a pillar-like structure. I stopped there for a moment and asked the women filling bottles from the water if this was the ancient natural spring of Ilyasi Masjid? When they answered in the affirmative I was awe stunned and at the same time delighted that I had finally got to witness the wonder about which my mother told me when I was a child. Trust me I had goose bumps!

I stopped there and felt the sweet and fragrant spring water for a moment and after ablution with the same went upstairs. There was a huge prayer chamber with a veranda outside it. The upper architecture of the mosque was even more stunning. One could sit there for days admiring the sheer beauty of the architecture, carvings and design, all white in colours.

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