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| Shait-Gambuj Masjid |
A great Saint warrior, Hz.Khan-E-Jahan Ali (Rh) founded a town in the 15th century AD at the western peripheral land of present day Bagerhat Dist. Bagerhat is an upazilla of Bagerhat District and part of Khulna division. The municipality was established in 1958, and Shait-Gambuj Masjid is one of the and largest tourist spot and in Bagerhat Dist.
Based on numismatic(
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency,
including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists
are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also
includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts
and the exchange of goods).
evidence some scholars are of the opinon that the town was called Khalifatabad during the 16th century AD. At the time of its prosperity
The Sixty Pillar Mosque (the Shat Gambuj), in Bagerhat in
south Bangladesh, on the eastern bank of a sweet water tank or pond (the takur
dighi) is one of the oldest mosques in the country and is described as
"historic mosque representing the Golden Era of Muslim Bengal". It is laid is over an area
of 160 feet (49 m) by 108 feet (33 m). The mosque is unique in that
it has 60 pillars that support 77 exquisitely curved "low squat
domes" that have worn away over time; it has seven central domes that are
four-sided and built in Bengali style
It was used for prayers, as an assembly hall and madrasa (an
Islamic school). Seventy seven domes are over the roof and four smaller ones at
the four corners are towers (the towers were used to call the faithfuls to
attend prayers). The large prayer hall has 11 arched doorways on the east and 7
each on the north and south which provide ventilation and light to the hall.
There are 7 longitudinal aisles and 11 deep bays in the midst of slim columns
made of stone. These columns support the curving arches that are overlaid by
the domes. The west wall in the interior has eleven mihrabs that are
decorated with stonework and terracotta and the flooring is brickwork. The
walls and the mihrabs were affected by sulphates. Most of the damage has
been rectified. The arches are 6 feet (1.8 m) thick with a slight taper
over the hollow and round walls. The mosque also functioned as the court of
Khan Jahan Ali. It now attracts a large number of tourists and visitors. The
mosque is decorated mostly with terracotta and bricks.
Nine
dome Mosque:
The Nine Dome Mosque is located to the west of the takur
dighi tank and built in the 15th
century, it is close to Khan Jahan Ali's
Tomb. Its western wall conventionally faces west towards
Mocca Sharif, where
the mihrab is inset on the western wall; terra cotta floral scrolls and
flower motifs are the decorations seen around the mihrab. Circular
towers are provided in the four corners. The walls of the mosque support a
large central dome which has eight smaller domes around it. This structure was
also affected by sulphates. It has been since substantially restored. Close to
this mosque are the Zinda Pir Mosque and mazar(tomb), which are in ruins.
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| Nine dome Mosque |
Singara Mosque:
Singara Mosque
The Singara Mosque is across the road from the Saith Gumbaz
Mosque on its southeastern side. It has a single dome which is heavily built
and a wide dome. In the typical style of the Khan Jahan Ali, the dome is
supported on thick walls and topped with a cambered cornice. The Bigi Begni
Mosque and the Chuna Khola Mosque are also of single dome type but much larger
in size compared to the Singara Mosque. Last reported, the mosque was in a
state of decay and renovation works were envisaged.
Ronvijoypur Mosque:
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| Ronvijoypur Mosque |
The Ronvijoypur Mosque has the largest dome in Bangladesh. It is of 11 metres (36 ft) width
supported by arches and pendentives. The
corners have tapering circular turrets while the external cornice has a slight
curve. The mosque's interior is plain. However the main mihrabs have
decorations of floral patterns. It is located on the opposite side of the Khan
Jehan Mausoleum, on the Khulna Bagerhat road. It is built according to Khan
Jehan style of architecture. It has been renovated many times in the past
during the 1960s and 70s. However, it needs further repair work to prevent
dampness inside the tomb, and also to the brickwork on the exterior surfaces.
The Chunakhola Mosque:
The Chunakhola Mosque
The Chuna Khola Mosque, built in the 15th century, is
located in the midst of rice fields in the village of Chuna Khola (named after
the limestone extraction that was in vogue here in the past). It has been
identified as representing a transition from the Khan Jehan style monuments. It
is a 7.7 metres (25 ft) square building with 2.24 metres (7 ft 4 in)
thick walls. It has three entrances on
the east and one each on the northern and southern sides also. It has three mihrabs
with the central mihrab being the largest in size and projecting
outwards. It has a hemispherical dome with frontal arches. There are also squinches
and half domes. It is distinctly different from the Khan Jehan style mosque in
its exterior decorations, particularly the east façade, which depicts four
rectangular panels bordered by foliated scrolls with merlons having plant
motifs. It has four turrets with curved cornices. The brick walls, in
particular, were damaged due to sulphate effect.
Six-Domed Mosque:
Six-Domed Mosque
The Six-Domed Mosque (also called the Rezakodha Masjid),
built in the 15th century near thakur dighi pond, had six domes
supported by stone columns. Protected under the Antiquities Act, the main mihrab
displayed a chain and bell design. However, since it was all in ruins, a new
building had been built, which has since been removed and the old ruins
retained.
Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali(Rh) Mazar:
Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali(Rh) Mazar:
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| Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali(Rh) Mazar |
The Khan Jahan Mausoleum or tomb is located on the northern
bank of a water tank (a pond infested with crocodiles) called thakur dighi. The pond is square in shape and
the excavated material from the tank was used to make an embankment over which
the Mausoleum has been built. The pond is approached through a flight of broad
and steep steps built from the embankment. It has a single domes structure
built over a plan of 45 feet (14 m) square.The building was made of brick walls over five layers of dressed stone which
forms the basement. From recorded sources of 1866, it is also mentioned that
the flooring had been inlaid with hexagonal encaustic tiles of different
designs and colours (mostly blue, white and yellow). However, in its present
condition such type of tiles are seen only on a few steps on the Mausoleum
itself. The tomb has black stones have been used in making the tomb and it is
made of three steps. Verses from the Koran are inscribed in Arabic and Persian.
There are inscriptions on the walls of the crypt which are inferred as
providing historical information about Ulugh Khan Jahan's life. After
retirement, Khan Jehan spent his retired life here and after his death on 25
October 1459, his tomb was preserved here.
Museum:
Museum
A small museum has been established by the Directorate of
Archaeology of Bangladesh, in collaboration with UNESCO, in front of the Shait
Gumbaz Mosque, where antiquaries collected from the area of the historical site
are displayed providing knowledge on the history of Bagerhat. It has three
exhibit galleries of antiquaries related to the "Historic Mosque City of
Bagerhat", which include inscriptions, potteries, terracotta plaques and
ornamental bricks. Pictures of important historic buildings of Bangladesh are
also part of the exhibits here.
Ghora Dhighi:
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| Ghora Dhighi |
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