The Khanqah-a-Moulaa – Shāa-a-Hamadāan is situated in Srinagar on the banks of river Jhelum was the first mosque built in 1389 by Sultan Sickandar. The Khanqah has been built on the stone platform erected by Shah-i-Hamadan (RA) having small compartments built on northern and southern ends of the Khanqah for devotional purposes. The Quranic verses and the Auraad Fateha were inscribed in the mosque of the shrine in golden words. Its arch is one of finest symbols of calligraphy in Kashmir. The Khanqah is a wooden structure whose chief aesthetic feature is its beautifully carved caves and hanging bells. The Khanqah-i-Mualla is dedicated to spiritual preacher, social reformer and spiritual leader Mir Syed Ali Hamdani.
He came to Kashmir three times in between 1365 and 1383 AD. After Sharaf-ud-Din Abdul Rehman Bulbul Shah (Ra), he was the second important Muslim to visit Kashmir. His titles were Amir-e-Kabir, Shah-e-Hamadan. Besides them, the Chroniclers had mentioned several other titles: Qutub-e-Zaman, Sheikh-e-Salikan-e-Jehan etc. Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (Ra) was born on Monday, 12th Rajab 714 AH (1314 A.D) in Hamadan and went to the paradise to take rest in Katlan. During his visit to Kashmir Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (Ra) preached about Islam and has impacted almost all the aspects of the lives of Kashmiris.
Hamadani is regarded as having brought various crafts and industries from middle east into Kashmir.Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (Ra) visited form one corner to other of Kashmir and built several mosques, during his visit used to mingle with people as a social reformer besides being a preacher and tied to share their pain, grief ,agony and sufferings which was collectively apparent far and wide in the valley at that time due to in-occupation and unemployment. Hazrat Shah-e-Hamadan (RA) being a multidimensional personality, analyzed the condition of people and realized – that no trade, no work and a harsh winter have made the life of Kashmiris miserable by all means – He decided to make the Kashmir as a center of his activities. Shah-e-Hamadan (RA) serves as historical and spiritual preacher who have shaped the culture of Kashmir. He brought with him 700 followers, including some weavers of carpets, handicrafts such as woodcarving, copper engraving ,cloth-weaving, pottery and calligraphy and Shawl-making. who taught the craft of pashmina textile and carpet-making to the local population. The growth of the textile industry in Kashmir increased its demand for fine wool particularly Pashmina and handicrafts for which Kashmir is known today globally.