Shat Gombuj Mosque

Type: Mosque/Eidgah

Contributed By: ,Nayeem ,Lonely Traveler

Brief

The Shat Gombuj Mosque has existed for nearly for 6 centuries. It is also referred to as sixty Dome Mosque. It is one of the largest historical mosques in the Bangladesh. People in Indian subcontinent praise it for architectural beauty. Khan Jahan Ali built the Shat Gombuj Mosque. The walls are unusually thick, made from tapered brick. 77 low domes are located inside and one dome on every corner.

Many aisles serve as divisions in its interior. Most of its parts were decorated by terracotta. The structure looks like a fortress, three smaller mosques can be found near it. They are Bibi Begni’s Mosque, which is found on its western side; the Chunakhola Mosque, located half a mile northwest of Bibi Begni’s Mosque; and the Singar Mosque, which is a single-domed mosque like the Chunakhola, located nearly half a mile southeast of Shat Gombuj Mosque.

How to go

It is located in Bagerghat district of Khulna divison. A cycle-rickshaw from the bus stand to the Shat Gombuj Mosque should run around Tk 10. Unless you’re in a hurry, you may want to just walk to the sights from the bus stand. Head west along the main road, a fairly nice walk save for the speedy honking buses. The first sight you’ll come to is the dargah; start asking around for it after about 5km or so. Shat Gombuj mosque is another 2 km or so west along the main road from the dargah turn off.

How To Reach: Bagerhat district

Bagerhat District is linked with Dhaka and other districts by road and Water. You can use any of those.

Many bus services are available from Dhaka to Bagerhat. Some of them are listed below for your assistance:

1. Meghna Paribahan
Sayedabad Terminal
Contact: 0171717388553
Fare: TK 350 (Approx.)

2. Shakura Paribahan
Gabtoli Terminal
Contact: 01711010450
Fare: TK 500 (Approx.)

3. Porjotok Paribahan
Sayadabad Terminal
Contact: 01711131078
Fare: TK 350 (Approx.)

4. Shohag Paribahan
Gabtoli Terminal
Contact: 01718679302
Fare: TK 380 (Approx.)

Every day, from 5pm to 7pm, three Launches and one streamer, drives from Dhaka Sadarghat to Hularhat in Pirojpur by turns. Once you reach Hularhat, you have to take a road transport, preferably a local bus or private car, which will drive you by Pirojpur to Bagerhat. Some of the launch services from Sadarghat, Dhaka to Hularhat, Pirojpur are listed below:

1. Al-Khaladi
2. Parbot
3. Farhana
4. Tipu

Starting time: 5pm
Reaching time: 9am

Rate:
Regular: TK 180
Cabin Single: TK 500
Cabin Double: TK 800

Presently, there are no flight services from Dhaka to Bagerhat. However, an airport in Bagerhat is currently under construction and therefore, Flights from Dhaka to Bagerhat may be available in the near future.

Where to Stay

There are only a very few hotels in Bagerhat where you may consider staying in. Our recommendation is:

1. Momtaz Hotel
Area: Rail road Bagerhat
It has simple accommodation with limited facilities and moderately good service. However, the place is costly. There are few more comparable hotels nearby the same area.

2. Hotel Jalico
Jalil Tower 77, Lower Jessore Road, Khulna-9100,
Bangladesh.
Phone: +880-41-283962, 811883, 810933, 725912
Mobile: +880-175-743477
Fax: +880-41-724048
E-mail: jalickhotel@yahoo.com, info@hoteljalico.com
Website: www.hoteljalico.com

3. Hotel Al-Prince And Bar
Mongla Port, Bagerhat, khulna, Bangladesh
Phone 88-04658-482

Things to do

With Shat Gumbuj Mosque, you can see some other smaller mosques. These are Bibi Begni’s Mosque, about 500m behind Shat Gombuj mosque and across a large pond, which has some interesting floral motifs; the bulbous Chunakhola Mosque, in a paddy field about 500m behind Bibi Begni’s; and Singar Mosque, across the highway from Shat Gombuj mosque.

Eating Facilities

If you are hungry, you may search for restaurants or fast food shops nearby. You may also carry your own food.

Travel Tips

There isn’t much to buy here aside from some prayer beads and other little trinkets near the dargah.

Map

Array ( [0] => Array ( [name] => Chowk Bazar Shahi Mosque [post_id] => 9953 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/chowk-bazar-shahi-mosque/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/P_20150610_1310241-169x300.jpg [post_content] =>

Chowk Bazar Shahi Mosque also known as Chowk Mosque is one of the oldest Mosques in Dhaka. It is located in the Chowk Bazar area of the old town of Dhaka, south to the current city center.

The mosque was constructed in 1676 by Subahdar Shayesta Khan (সুবাহদার শায়েস্তা খান). It is called ‘Shahi Mosque’ as it is founded by Subahdar Shayesta Khan. The mosque is built above a raised platform. The three domed mosque above the platform, now transformed into a multi-storied structure was originally a copy of Shayesta Khan's another three domed mosque at the Mitford Hospital compound near the Buriganga River. Some square shaped rooms may be built for Imam and for students of the Madrashah. As a result of several renovation & reconstruction work, this mosque has lost its ancient original view.

History: This Mosque was constructed in 1676, as noted by an inscription in the Persian language over a gateway. The inscription attributes the project to Subahdar Shaista Khan. So far, this is known as the earliest dated mosque in the History of Muslim Architecture in Bengal, built on a high vaulted platform. Its architectural design was perhaps influenced by Tughlaq Architectures; such as Khirki Masjid or Kalan Mosque of Delhi. Influenced by this structure, some other mosques were built in Dhaka and Murshidabad.

Architectural Properties: The western half of the 3.05 meter high vaulted platform (28.65 meter from north to south and 24.38 meter from east to west) is occupied by the original three-domed mosque. It measures, inclusive of the four octagonal towers on the exterior angles, 16.15 meter by 7.92 meter. There are three four-centered archways in the east, all opening out under half-domed vaults. The half-domed vault of the central archway still contains beautiful Muqarnas works in stucco.

Corresponding to the three eastern entrances, there are three Mihrabs inside the west wall, all now redesigned. The central mihrab still has a semi-octagonal aperture, while its flanking counterparts are rectangular in design. The mihrabs are now all studded with lustrous pieces of enamel. The rectangular frames enclosing the mihrabs are now topped by rows of painted cresting. The floor of the mosque is now laid with marble.

Three bays divides interior view of this Mosque- the central one square shaped and the side ones are rectangular. All these bays were covered with domes, the central one being bigger than its flanking counterparts. This can be deduced from the newly built three-domed prayer chamber exactly above the original one, where the central dome has been kept larger than the side ones.

The vaulted rooms, all round underneath the platform, are either square or rectangular in shape. Many of them are now let out to shopkeepers and others are still being used as accommodation. The under ceilings of these rooms are flat on the top and barrel-shaped at the sides.

Very uniquely designed and Space utilized Madrasa & Mosque: The promenade around the three domed prayer chamber, since there was no separate structure for study purpose, might have been used for open-air classes and the vaulted room with book-shelves on their walls underneath the platform may have been designed to provide residential accommodation for those who used to teach and study here. In that perspective, Chawk Mosque may be regarded as the first known example of Residential Madrasa Mosque.

It is an ingenious way of accommodating two structures-a madrasa and a mosque in a single building which not only saved space but also a considerable amount of money.

) [1] => Array ( [name] => Shahjadpur Mosque [post_id] => 3085 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/shahjadpur-mosque/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Shahzadpur-Masjid-Banglapedia1.jpg [post_content] => It was built in 1528 in ancient Bangla. Many people believe that it is a 15^th century architecture which was built by Shah Mokdum(R). There is no inscription found for any date. Shahjadpur mosque stands on the bank of the river Hurasagar at Dargapara, the extreme end of Shahjadpur proper, in the district of Sirajganj. It is not dated by any inscription. Architectural as well as decorative features of the mosque point to its 15th century origin. Its architectural and decorative features indicate that it is of the 15^th century. It has a rectangular multi domed shape. Externally it is 19.13m tall and 12.6m wide and internally it is 15.77m tall and 9.60m wide. Its walls are 1.5m thick. Inside we can find 2 rows made of stone pillars and they carry pointed archways. There are 8 black slag pillars. There are 5 arched entrances in the mosque parallel to the west wall mihrab. There are eight black basalt pillars, square at the base, then octagonal, and having a square capital on the top. The mosque is entered by five impressive arched entrances parallel to the mihrabs in the west wall. There are three blind niches on the south and north sides where the openings would have been. There are two subsidiary mihrabs on the left side of the central mihrab, and one on the right side. The place of another mihrab on the right side of the central mihrab is occupied by the mimbar of the mosque. The plan shows five bays and three aisles, allowing for fifteen uniform domes over the roof. The decoration and roof the mosque is slightly curved which dates back during time of Sultanate period. This mosque resembles features of early Sultanate period of Bengal. ) [2] => Array ( [name] => Chandamari Mosque [post_id] => 6325 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/chandamari-mosque/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Chandamari-Mosque-300x200-300x200.jpg [post_content] =>

The Chandamari mosque in Kurigram is an ancient Mughal mosque that has been around for centuries. However, the mosque is falling inexorably into ruin due to acid rain and lack of proper maintenance. The mosque is situated in the village of Chandamari in Chakirpasha union under the Rajarhat Upazila in the district of Kurigram. No one knows the exact year the mosque was built or who built it. The locals consider it the oldest mosque in the area, at approximately five hundred years old. The architecture of the mosque is very similar to that of other buildings dating back to the Mughal times. It should be mentioned that there is no department of archaeology in the district. Should archaeologists visit the mosque and perform carbon dating experiments, its year of foundation may be pinpointed.

During a visit to the site, local man Abdul Zalil Sarker and President of the Mosque Committee Jakir Hossen Chowdhury told Star Insight that perhaps future generations will know the exact age of the mosque. "It was built in the 16th or 17th century. It bears some similarities to the structure of the Atia mosque (1609 AD) in Tangail," a local historian said. Local sources say that though there are 52 decimals of land in the mosque's name, whilst it is established on only five decimals. The height of the mosque is 45”. There are three large, four medium and twenty-four small domes on top, the four corners and around the mosque respectively. Nine of smaller domes have been damaged.

This mosque, however, is not one of a kind. Hundreds of old buildings with ample antique value and rich heritage are crumbling due to lack of care while others are even being deconstructed. The issue seems to be ignored completely by authorities despite plenty of public interest and protest.

The mosque was made with flat tally bricks, which were cemented together with a kind of paste called Bhishkas. The thickness of walls, roof and domes are 4”. From a long period of continued carelessness, a crack had formed in the center of the 3 large domes. Being unfit, the middle dome was reduced by ½ feet and repaired by the mosque committee, who also built a tin-shed porch in front of the mosque.

) [3] => Array ( [name] => Khanjan Dighi Mosque [post_id] => 3604 [post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/khanjan-dighi-mosque/ [thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Khanjan-dighi-mosque-1-300x225.jpg [post_content] => Khanjan Dighi Mosque is located at the south of Dasbari mosque, where Ballal Sen excavated a Dighi. Against the southern fringe by going a bit north we can see remnants of Khanjan Dighi mosque. It is also known as Khoniya Dighi mosque to many. Many also know it as Rajbibi Mosque. The mosque has been inside the jungle for a long time. The loss of forest makes the mosque visible to human eye. By seeing its architecture it is assumed that it was built in the 15^th century. ) )

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