Shat Gombuj Masjid (Sixty Dome Masjid)

Shat Gambuj Masjid (Sixty Dome Masjid) located at Bagerhat district in Bangladesh. Sixty dome Masjid is one of the oldest Masjids, built in 1459 with amazing Islamic architectural structure is situated here in Bagerhat. Khan Jahan Ali (rahmatullahi alaihi) was the architect and general contractor of this historical Masjid. It is the largest historical Masjid in Bangladesh. It is also one of the most impressive places on the Indian Subcontinent.

Shat Gombuj Masjid (ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদ)

 Khan Jahan Ali (rahmatullahi alaihi) was a great and famous Muslim saint. He was the local ruler of Khalifabad (present Bagerhat). He was an officer of Bengal Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. Khan Jahan Ali (rahmatullahi alaihi) built a Muslim colony in this locality and built many structures for the well service for the people. He made water tanks, Masjids etc. Shat Gambuj Masjid is his greatest creation which is now a world Heritage site.

Sultanate Masjid, Shat Gambuj Masjid was also used for ruling the area and used as a court too. The Masjid is situated on the eastern bank of the Ghora Dighi. It is about 3 miles far from the main town of Bagerhat.

Shat Gombuj Masjid (ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদ)

The name Shat Gambuj Masjid means a Masjid with sixty domes. But actually the Masjid has 77 squat domes with 7 four sided pitched Bengali domes in the middle row. There are 11 arched doors on east and 7 each on north and south. The Masjid is divided into 7 longitudinal aisles. There are 11 deep bays of stone columns. The wall of the Masjid is 6 feet thick and the internal space is 160 feet into 108 feet. The full Masjid is built by red burn mud or bricks.

It attracts a large number of tourists and visitors every year. As it is heard that this Masjid had been used for three purposes.

• As a salat (prayer) Masjid.
• As an assembly hall on early times of Muslims.
• Madrasa.

There is an old decorated boundary wall around the Masjid yard. Muslim people pray Namaz in the Masjid. Every Friday at noon about 5 thousand or more people go to pray Namaz in the historical Shat Gambuj Masjid.

There is a museum in the Masjid area which is situated to keep the historical items safe. You can know a lot about the Masjid and about the history of 15th century.

Foreigners are charged a little to see the Masjid. Though you don’t want to see the museum you’ll have to pay to visit only the Masjid. The entry fee is only 50 taka for foreigners including the fee of the museum. Museum is open from 9am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.

Shat Gombuj Masjid (ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদ)

If you go to visit the historical Shat Gambuj Masjid you can also visit some more historical places of Bagerhat. Bagerhat is a city of historical Masjids, tombs and temples with some larger ponds which are historical and beautifull too. Rickshaw is available for local movement and it’s enough because all places are near the Masjid.

Near the Masjid 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.

So don’t miss to visit this wonderful world Heritage Masjid quickly. You are bound to be lost in it’s beauty.