Bagerhat is a relatively small town rich in religious history as you can find here several mosques that were built mostly during the 15th century.
The site is declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers its historic mosques including the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat – Bangladesh.
Location
The Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat – Bangladesh is located approximately 3 miles off the western section of the town center. It is within the Khulna Division, south of the country.
Getting There
To get to Bagerhat, you will have to take a bus from Khulna or Mongla, both of which are towns within the Khulna Division.
When you alight at the bus stop in Bagerhat, you can take a cycle rickshaw to get to the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat – Bangladesh.
On the other hand, if you have plenty of time for explorations, the best option is to walk around town. The Sixty Dome Mosque is about two kilometers off the dargah turnoff, along the main thoroughfare.
What to See and Do
This may not be readily visible to you but the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat – Bangladesh actually has more than 60 domes. There are in fact 81 domes in all.
The mosque is made entirely of brick and terracotta. The interiors have very few adornments but its 60 pillars, divided into 10 rows with 6 pillars each; are its most striking feature.
In the afternoons, just as the sun is about to set, the pillars cast a shadow on the interiors enhancing the sacred ambience of the mosque.
The walls on the western section of the mosque are adorned with 10 mihrabs or semi – circular niches.
The mihrab in the center is made out of black stone materials. The northern and southern walls on the other hand, are adorned with cusped niches.
There is also a museum within the premises of the mosque.
Brief History
The Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat – Bangladesh is locally known as the Shait Gumbad Mosque which translates to its English name: 60 Dome Mosque or mosque with sixty domes.
The mosque was constructed some time in the year 1549, under Khan Jahan Ali, a Muslim saint who founded most of the district settlements in the district of Bagerhat.
The mosque is the largest surviving mosque in the country and is considered as one of the best examples of Muslim architecture.
From north to south, the mosque has measurements of roughly about one hundred and ninety – two feet and from its eastern to western side, it measures approximately about one hundred and thirty feet.
Cost
The cost to visit the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat – Bangladesh and its museum is 50 Tk.
Other Information
The museum is open from 9 in the morning up to 12 noon; it closes for lunch break and then opens again from 2 until 5 in the afternoon.
