Saat Masjid, A remaining archaeological heritage of Mughals – May, 2009

16th May 2009. It was my holiday and I was trying to somewhere to shot. The day before I ask some people for a short photo walk, but one was free enough for this. Then I knocked Saif bhai (Gazi Saif Sohel) and he gives me the green signal. My plan was to shot around 300 years old Saat Masjid (Seven Dome Mosque) or Saat Gambuj Masjid in Mohammadpur.

Saat Gambuj Masjid

Archeologists of Bangladesh claim that the Masjid was made by Shaista Khan. He was a Subadhar and army general of Mughal Empire in Bengal region from 1664 to 1688. As the accurate date and year of creation of the Masjid is unknown, we can assume this was made between these years.

A lane beside Masjid

Size of the Masjid is 17.67meter X 6.22meter. The masjid has three domes in north to south side and four dooms in four corners. In total it has seven domes, that’s why people call it Sat Gomboj (Seven Dome) masjid. All seven domes are almost in same size.

Saat Gambuj Masjid from front right side

Quran Sharif in Masjid

Quran Sharif holder in Masjid

Masjid view from ground floor of a dome

It has a small gate in front of the masjid. The gate self alone count as an archeological heritage. Place for ablution (Oju) is in the west side of the Masjid. Masjid has a grave yard in east north corner.

Gate of Shat Gambuj Masjid

Oju Khana (ablution place) of the Masjid

Oju Khana & Back Side (West side) of Masjid

Grave yard and Masjid, Gate in Middle

Grave Yard

After its boundary, there is a big garden, which is also property and part of the masjid. Boundary of the garden ends in the road and just opposite side of the road there is also a small architecture which is actually a shrine (Majar Sharif). People say one daughter of Shaista Khan is sleeping in this Majar sharif.

Majar Sharif of (Shrine) Shaista Khans's daughter

Architecture of this Majar has similarity with Sat Gambuj Masjid. There is a same architecture in Rohan Pur of Chapai Nawabganj. But the Shat Masjid is an unique Masjid and the same kind of masjid is not found in any other place.

Masjid from various angel

A hujur is sleeping in front of notrh gate

South side entrance of the Masji

View from the entrance of grave yard

two house sparrow was playing

Saat Gambuj (seven dome) masjid, Mohammadpur, Dhaka

This is a very beautiful architecture by Shaista Khan. This could be one of the places of tourist attractions without hampering the holiness and prayer schedule of the masjid. But I personally didn’t see any initiative by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) or Department of Archeology of Bangladesh Government. Unplanned buildings very close to the Masjid have also destroyed the beauty of the Masjid. There should be some regulations and implementation of regulations on developing buildings around the archeological heritages.