Brief
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.
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[name] => Mahajampur Ahamad Shah Mosque
[post_id] => 11558
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/mahajampur-ahamad-shah-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DSC067441-300x169.jpg
[post_content] =>
Mahajampur was an ancient Muslim ruled region. This region is situated few miles north to Sonargaon town area. There is a Mosque found here, named Mahajampur Ahamad Shah Mosque, which was built around in 16th C.E. The style of bricks engraving and placement of dome charms the visitors. There are so many Scholars who had described the location and beauty of this mosque at different time in various writing. Among them, ‘Parvin Hasan & A.K.M. Zakaria’ described its beauty in their writing.
Many ancient evidences of human settlement has been found along with this Mosque & Mazar structure. Archaeologist found a big quantity of ancient bricks wherever they conducted excavation in that region. Two inscriptions being discovered from this Mosque. From one of those inscriptions we came to know about Sultan Shams Uddin Ahmad Shah (1432-1436 AD), which make it named after by his name. But, it has been said that someone named Firoz khan built that Mosque.
This is a six domed Mosque, which is built following the stylistic beauty of Baba Adam Shahid Mosque. Domes over the roof are bearing the evidences of Sultani Architecture of Bengal. It contains various design and decorations which is certainly something needs to be observed meticulously.
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[name] => {:en}Boktnagar Zamindar Bari and Mosque{:}{:bn}বক্তনগর জমিদার বাড়ী ও মসজিদ{:}
[post_id] => 5541
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/boktnagar-zamindar-bari-and-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/boktonogor-jomidar-bari-bandura-11-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Beside the bank of the Ichhamoti river (ইছামতি নদী), you'll find an old house that is currently abandoned. No inscription was found about the house. From the architecture of the old house, you can only guess that it was a house of a wealthy man who could have been a Zamindar (জমিদার) or a rich merchant. Boktnogor/Boktonogor(বকতনগর/বক্তনগর) is a place located near the Shikari Para(শিকারী পারা) after Bandura bazaar(বান্দুরা বাজার).
This well-built edifice has lot of rooms inside. Front side of the house is still firm, but damaged at the back sides. Still now a days the house has a lot of open spaces around including ponds. At the south-west corner of the mansion, another edifice is available. This one is an old mosque. Again it is unsure about the builder of the mosque.
If the owner of the mosque and the house is the same person, then the owner must be a Muslim. The village name is Boktnagar (বক্তনগর) which should came from Bokht Nogor (বখত নগর). Possibly someone lived there named Bokht (বখত) and sounds a Muslim name, but all are predictions.
The mosque is a small one having three domes at the top. Middle one is a bit larger compare to other twos. Just above the main gate, and inscription is found written in Arabic. The mosque has a pond at the southern side and a graveyard at the eastern side.
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ইছামতি নদীর তীরে একটি পরিত্যাক্ত ভবন দেখতে পাবেন তবে কোন শিলালিপি না থাকায় এই ভবনটি সম্পর্কে বিস্তারিত জানা যায়নি। তবে, ভবনের স্থাপত্যশৈলী দেখে বোঝা যায় এটি ছিল একটি জমিদার বাড়ি। এই ভবনটির অভ্যন্তরে বেশকয়েকটি কক্ষ রয়েছে। জমিদারবাড়ির সামনের দিকটি এখনও মজবুত থাকলেও পেছনের দিকটি বেশ ক্ষতিগ্রস্থ হয়েছে।
এখনও ভবনটির চারপাশে একটি পুকুরসহ বেশকিছু খালি জায়গা রয়েছে। জমিদারবাড়ির দক্ষিন-পশ্চিম কোনায় একটি প্রাচীন মসজিদ রয়েছে। মসজিদটির নির্মাণের ব্যাপারেও কিছু জানা যায়নি। যদি জমিদারবাড়ি এবং মসজিদের মালিক একই ব্যাক্তি হয়ে থাকেন তবে ধরে নেওয়া যায় যে তিনি ছিলেন একজন মুসলিম। ধারনা করা হয়ে থাকে যে গ্রামতির নাম বক্তনগর হয়েছে বখতনগর শব্দ থেকে। এমনও হতে পারে যে, বখত নামক কোন মুসলিম ব্যাক্তির নামে গ্রামটির নামকরণ করা হয়েছে।
এখানে অবস্থিত মসজিদটি ছোট এবং তিনগম্বুজ বিশিষ্ট। তবে মাঝখানের গম্বুজটি অন্য দুটি গম্বুজের চেয়ে বড়। মসজিদের মূল প্রবেশ পথের উপরে আরবীতে লেখা শিলালিপি দেখা যায়। মসজিদের দক্ষিনে একটি পুকুর এবং পূর্বদিকে একটি কবরস্থান রয়েছে।
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[name] => Choto Sona Mosque
[post_id] => 3596
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/sona-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Choto-Sona-Mosque-1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
During the regime of Sultan Hussain Shah, Choto Sona Mosque was built from 1493-1519. The 50 domes of the mosque were adorned with precious elements; so it was named as Choto Sona Mosque. It is perpetuated by the Department of Archeology and Museums, Government of Bangladesh. The adorned precious elements which were responsible for giving this name, are nonexistent now. The premise of the mosque is on an overall area of 42 m from east to west and 43.5 m from north to south. The mosque is located 3.5 km from Kotwali gate, 0.5 km to south of Mughal Tankhana complex in the quarter of Firozpur. The photo of this mosque is printed in our 20 taka note.
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[name] => {:en}Sadi Mosque{:}{:bn}সাদী মসজিদ{:}
[post_id] => 5092
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/sadi-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Sadi-Mosque-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Among many of the structures of Egarosindur, Sadi Mosque is one of the best-conserved monuments in the country. A pertain inscription tablet, fixed over the central mihrab, record that the mosque was built in 1062 AH (1652 AD) by one Sadi, son of Shaikh Shiroo, during the reign of Shahjahan.
Measuring 25 ft. a side, the single-domed square mosque was built on a raised piece of land. There are three arched entrances in the east, and one each in the middle of the north and the south sides. The central archway, which is larger, is set within a slightly projected rectangular frame, but the flanking archways are contained within slightly recessed rectangle. The Qibla wall is recessed with three semi-octagonal mihrabs, which correspond to the three eastern doorways. The mosque represents a happy blending of Mughal elements with the Sultanate architectural traits characteristic of Bengal.
Sadi Mosjid (সাদী মসজিদ) which is around half a kilometer apart from there, on your way by passing beside the Egarosindur (এগারোসিন্দুর) Fort (though nothing is remaining now a days). Sadi Mosque (সাদী মসজিদ) is a single domed mosque similar to the Shah Mahmud Mosque. A large dome is at the top of the mosque which almost cover the whole roof. The dome is quite large and bulbous. Also, the structure is quite difficult in nature and can easily be distinguished from others.
The mosque has decorative terracotta at the outer side and the inner side of the mosque. Sadi mosque (সাদী মসজিদ) was built by someone named Sadi (সাদী) who was the son of Shaikh Shiru (শাইখ শিরু). It was during 1652, the regime of Shahjahan (শাহজাহান).
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সাদী মসজিদকে বলা যায় দেশের অন্যতম শ্রেষ্ঠ সংরক্ষিত স্থাপনার একটি। মসজিদের কেন্দ্রস্থলের মিহরাবের উপর স্থাপিত শিলালিপি থেকে জানা যায় যে ১০৬২ হিজরী (১৬৫২ সালে) সম্রাট শাহজাহানের শাসনামলে জনৈক শাইখ শিরুর পুত্র সাদী এই মসজিদটি নির্মাণ করেছিলেন।
একটি গোলাকার গম্বুজবিশিষ্ট বর্গাক্ষেত্রাকার এই মসজিদটি উঁচু জমির উপর নির্মাণ করা হয়। প্রতি বাহু ২৫ ফুট দৈর্ঘ্যর এই মসজিদটির পূর্বে তিনটি, উত্তরদিকে মাঝ বরাবর একটি এবং দক্ষিন দিকে একটি ধনুকআকারের ফটক রয়েছে। মসজিদের মাঝখানের বড় ফটকটি একটি আয়াতক্ষেত্রাকার কাঠামোর উপর নির্মাণ করা হলেও অন্যান্য ফটকগুলো সামান্য নিচু আয়াতক্ষেত্রাকার কাঠামোর উপর নির্মাণ করা হয়েছে। মসজিদের কিবলার দেয়ালে পূর্বদিকের দরজা ফটকগুলো বরাবর তিনটি অর্ধ অষ্টভুজাকার মিহরাব রয়েছে। মসজিদের নির্মাণশৈলীতে মুঘল এবং সুলতানি আমলের স্থাপত্যশৈলীর চমৎকার মিশ্রণ লক্ষ্য করা যায় আর এজন্যই অন্যান্য স্থাপত্য থেকে খুব সহজেই এই মসজিদটিকে আলাদা করা যায়। মসজিদের ভেতরে ও বাইরে টেরাকোটার কাজ রয়েছে।
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