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] => Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque
[post_id] => 7286
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/khan-mohammad-mridha-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Khan-Mohammad-Mridha-Mosque1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is another archaic mosque from our Dhaka city. Unlike other mosques, this one has plenty of spaces around it, and not consumed by the proximity buildings.
The mosque was built over a very high vault like platform. Using the stair, anyone can go to the upper store and able to have the beauty of the antiquity. According to the inscription of the central doorway of the mosque, it was built during 1704–05 AD by someone named Khan Muhammad Mridha, and the mosque was named after him.
The mosque has three domes at the top of it and has four pillars at the four corners with traditional ornate. If you visit the mosque, you may find that the door is closed. It usually opens at the time of the prayer.
At the eastern side of the mosque, there is a tomb exists, but no epigraph over the tomb, so it is hard to find anything further about this. Also the there is a garden available at eastern side having various kind of seasonal flowers.
There are plenty of spaces around the mosque. It will allow you to observe the mosque without any obstacle unlike any other mosques from Dhaka City. Having roads at west and north of the mosque kept it detached from other buildings.
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[name] => {:en}Bagha Mosque{:}{:bn}বাঘা মসজিদ{:}
[post_id] => 2983
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[post_content] => {:en}
Bagha mosque was constructed on a western embankment of a large pond surrounded by brick and walls of 48.77sq meter. It is one of the major tourist attractions of Rajshahi. In reference to the inscription on top of the mosque it may be conclude that the mosque was constructed by Sultan Nusrat Shah in 1932 A.D. Initially its roof was over 10 domes but later those disintegrated. The mosque was constructed with brick and stone plinth. An earthquake in 1897 destroyed all the domes.
{:}{:bn}
বাঘা মসজিদ নির্মাণ করা হয়েছিল একটি বিশাল পুকুরের পশ্চিম তীরে যেটি ছিল ইট এবং দেয়ালে ঘেরা এবং এলাকাটির আয়তন ছিল ৪৮.৭৭ বর্গ মিটার। এটি রাজশাহীর অন্যতম পর্যটন আকর্ষণ। মসজিদের শিলালিপি থেকে জানা যায় যে খ্রিষ্টপূর্ব ১৯৩২ সালে সুলতান নুসরাত শাহ মসজিদটি নির্মাণ করেন। শুরুর দিকে মসজিদের ছাদে ১০ টির অধিক গম্বুজ থাকলেও পরবর্তীতে তা ধ্বংস হয়ে যায়। মসজিদটি ইট ও পাথর দিয়ে নির্মাণ করা হয়। ১৮৯৭ সালের ভুমিকম্পে সবকটি গম্বুজ ধ্বংস প্রাপ্ত হয়।
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[name] => {:en}Shahi Eidgah{:}{:bn}শাহী ঈদগাহ{:}
[post_id] => 4257
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/shahi-eidgah/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/shahi-eid-gha-11-300x225.jpg
[post_content] => {:en}
Shahi Eidgah was built on a hill by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century. In the two of Muslim Eids, people offer their Eid prayer here. It looks like a fort. 100,000 people can pray here in a single Jamat. There was no gate previously though now, gates are built to ensure safety. Now, government is expanding the area of Eidgah to accommodate 3 times more people at a time.
[This spot needs more detail. If you have more information and photos, please be advised to add in our website. Your name will be published as a Content Contributor]
{:}{:bn}সিলেট সার্কিট হাউজ থেকে তিন কিলোমিটার উত্তর-পূর্বে কাজীটোলা সড়কে শাহী ঈদগাহ অবস্থিত। ১৭শ শতকে মুঘল সম্রাট আওরঙ্গজেব পাহাড়ের ওপর এই ঈদগাহটি নির্মাণ করেন। প্রতি বছর দুই ঈদেই এখানে ঈদের নামাজ অনুষ্ঠিত হয়। কেল্লার মত দেখতে এই ঈদগাহে একসাথে ১,০০,০০০ মানুষ জামাতে নামাজ আদায় করতে পারেন। পূর্বে ঈদগাহে প্রবেশের জন্যে কোন ফটক না থাকলেও নিরাপত্তাজনিত কারনে এখন ফটক নির্মাণ করা হয়েছে। বর্তমানে সরকার ধারনক্ষমতা ৩ গুন বাড়ানোর লক্ষ্য নিয়ে এই ঈদগাহটি সম্প্রসারন করছে।{:}
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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.
{:}{:bn}
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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