Tenga Iswaripur Mosque
Type: Mosque/Eidgah
Contributed By: Nayeem
Brief
The length of Tenga Iswaripur Mosque is plain (41.15m D7 10.67m) with 2.13 m thick walls. The eastern exterior of the mosque is pierced with five domed doorways, only 1 doorway exists in north and south walls. The wall on the west has five semi-circular mihrab apertures in alignment of the eastern doorways. The central mihrab and the central doorway are larger than their flanking counterparts and are projected outside. The four exterior angles of the Tenga Iswaripur Mosque building were given priority with massive octagonal towers, but these are nonexistent now. In traditional Mughal style, cornices and parapets of the building are horizontal.
The mosque is partitioned internally into five independent square apartments, of which the central one is bigger (6.40m a side) than the other ones (5.70m a side). All the apartments are interconnected by axial archways in the north-south alignment, which correspond to the single arched gateway in the middle of the north and south walls. There are 5 domes over the roof, one over each apartment; the central one is larger than those over the side apartments.
There are four blocked arches in the middle of the four walls. Since inscription table is missing people have confusion about date of the mosque. Two traditions have different opinions about it. According to one tradition, It was constructed by Raja Pratapaditya for his Muslim supporters, while other refer to Akbar’s General Raja Mansingh. This latter view is untenable, since the Jessore-Khulna region was beyond Mughal control during Akbar’s reign (1556-1605). But it is more probable that some Mughal officers who were stationed here after the final defeat of Raja Pratapaditya by Subahdar Islam Khan in 1612 might have erected it.
The mosque deserves special appreciation due to its ground plan. It can be considered as the most ancient example in Muslim architecture of Bengal, which consists of five domes in the same line. In plan the mosque seems to be an improvement of the three-domed type mosques in Bengal or a copy of such five-chambered buildings as the Bara Gumbad Mosque (1494) and the Moth-ki-Masjid (1500) at Delhi and even perhaps the Channi Ghat Mosque at Patna.
How to go
It is located in Tenga locality under Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira district. It is located in Tenga Union under Shyamnagar Upazila in Satkhira district. After reaching at Satkhira, take local buses or CNG or other means of transports to visit that place.
How To Reach: Satkhira District
The only route to go to Satkhira from Dhaka is by road. You can take a bus to go to Satkhira, crossing river by ferry. Some of the bus services available are listed below for your assistance:
1. Eagle Paribahan
Gabtoli Counter, Phone-8017698, 8017320
2. Hanif Enterprise
Gabtoli Counter, Phone-8011759
3. AK Travels
Gabtoli, Contact: 02-8032916, 01191-620621
Tk. 550 (Non-AC)
Tk. 1000 (AC)
Where to Stay
There are not many hotels in Satkhira and the few available places may not meet your standards. Accommodation facilities in Satkhira still need to improve. Our pick among the hotels in Satkhira is:
1. Mozaffar Garden & Resort, Satkhira
Phone: 01712104439, +8801719769009, +8801191812257
2. Borsha Resort
Manager: AKM Anisur Rahman
Address: Kolabari, 9 no. Burigoalini, Shamnagar, Satkhira.
Phone: 01715251963
3. Vai Vai Hotel
Manager/Owner: Babu Ram Mojumdar
Address: Ashasuni, Khajra Bazar.
Phone: 01913424633
4. Halima Hotel
Manager/Owner: Ms. Halima Begum
Address: Ashasuni, Khajra Bazar.
Phone: 01790227919
5. Sundarban Hotel
Manager/Owner: Mr. Dr. Shahjahan
Address: Nokipur Bus Stand, Shamnagar, Satkhira
Phone: 01710126624
Things to do
- You can see the architectural beauty.
- Pray in the holy mosque.
Eating Facilities
You may search for restaurants or fast food shops nearby. You may also carry your own food.
