The Sixty Dome Mosque

A 15^th-century structure that still baffles the engineers, the largest mosque in Bangladesh, the most impressive Muslim monuments in the whole of the Indian subcontinent that has been enlisted a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is the one and only Sixty Dome Mosque.

 

The Sixty Dome Mosque is more than 500 years old. In the 15^th century, a Muslim colony was founded by Khan Jahan Ali in the mangrove forest of the Sundarbans, near the coast in the Bagerhat District. He founded the colony during the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. Bagerhat district was known as “Khalifalabad” then. Khan Jahan Ali adorned the Bagerhat city with dozens of mosques. The most striking one is the multi-domed mosque. In addition, it took roughly 17 years to build it. The mosque covers an area of about 17280 sq. feet with the length of 160 feet and breadth of 108 feet.

There is a trick in the name of this mosque. The name of the mosque is Sixty Dome Mosque. However, seventy-seven domes are present on the top of the mosque. Now, if we focus the internal structure of the mosque more closely we can see that the architecture contains exactly sixty pillars. Perhaps, This is a reason for the name – Sixty Domes Mosque.

In addition, The 77 low domes were arranged in seven rows of eleven, and one dome on each corner, bringing the total to 81 domes. There are four towers. Two of four towers were used to call azaan. The interior is divided into many aisles and bays by slender columns, which culminate in numerous arches that support the roof. Furthermore, the mosque has 77 squat domes with 7 four-sided pitched Bengali domes in the middle row. The vast prayer hall, although provided with 11 arched doorways on east and 7 each on north and south for ventilation and light, presents a dark and somber appearance inside. It is divided into 7 longitudinal aisles and 11 deep bays by a forest of 60 slender stone columns, from which springs rows of endless arches, supporting the domes. Six feet thick, slightly tapering walls and hollow and round, almost detached corner towers, resembling the bastions of a fortress, each capped by small rounded cupolas, recall the Tughlaq architecture of Delhi. The mosque represents wonderful archeological beauty which was the signature in the 15th century.
The construction of the mosque was completed in the year 1459 with terracotta decoration. Around the doors, you can see beautiful design. Inside of the mosque, the walls are designed by former Muslim cultural tradition. The entire mosque is a wonderful archeological beauty which is the signature of the 15th century.

At evening the mosque looks really amazing especially when the lights are turned on.

There is a pond beside where crocodiles used to live. Two of them were significant. This is because they were larger than the others namely Kalo Pahar meaning Black Hill and the other one is Dhola Pahar meaning White Hill. The black one was male while the white one was female. The Black Hill died a long time ago so as the White Hill. However, the White Hill’s mummy has been kept in the museum of this mosque.
Near the mosque, there is only one very good restaurant but no residence is situated here. You can see the whole Bagerhat town in a single day but you’ll have to stay at least a night to visit the whole district. Don’t worry, three very good hotels are in Bagerhat and one is at the Mongla Port.
Therefore, don’t miss to visit this wonderful world Heritage mosque quickly. You are bound to be lost in its beauty.
Information has been taken from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixty_Dome_Mosque
https://www.travel-bangladesh.net/shat-gambuj-mosque-world-heritage-site-as-historical-beautiful-mosque/
http://amlan-chakraborty.blogspot.com.au/2017/05/shat-gambuj-masjid-sixty-dome-mosque-bangladesh.html
http://shatgombujbd.blogspot.com.au/
Images are taken from:
http://www.worldfortravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Shait-Gumbad-Masjid-of-Bangladesh.jpg
http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/00/42/87/30_big.jpg
https://www.eastasy.com/uploads/tinymce/6M8IDR78/1_2.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/2b/59/212b5912bb54134f7adbe129c74fd163.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3e3Wcn9eY6LFgLDtp-XwjdiC5Tdg06HZoEShUp_22yFZ0qkUFEmNpDS-TGFyajv9WewtdmVJU0upkJEd86oRMkbqCbFrcz8tWF8JuwMsMK-cUbAkNp5UoSHoYgbpdeTjhNvelwl8d_Y/s1600/Sat+Gambuj+mosque.jpg