Bibi Begni MosqueBagerhat Sadar, Bangladesh
This single-domed mosque is locally considered to be contemporary
with Khan Jahan Ali style mosques of Khalifatabad, present date Bagerhat,
Bangladesh. Based on architectural style the date of construction can be estimated
to be early-fifteenth century.
The Bibi Begni Mosque is a Sultanate mosque; that is, a square structure crowned with a single dome. The
mosque is situated on the bank of the Ghoradighi less than half a kilometer to
the west of the Satgumbad Mosque.
The mosque is a square of 56'9" x 56'9" externally
while internally it has a square plan of 32'9" x 32'9". The structure
is a single chamber, roofed over by a hemispherical dome. The eastern façade has
three arched openings to the prayer hall. The dome is internally carried on by
four intersecting arches springing from stone pillars and brick pilasters
attached to the side walls. There are three mihrabs, each aligned with the
three entrances at east and the central portion of the qibla wall is projected
westward from the ground to the roof. Stylistically this kind is known as Khan
Jahan Ali architecture, commonly found in and around south-western part of
Bangladesh.
The square structure is buttressed by four corner turrets. These
turrets end at the level of parapet walls and ribbed in typical Bengali Sultanate
fashion. The façades are capped by curvilinear cornices of pre-Mughal type. Exterior
façades are of plain brick texture with arched opening. The central entrance of
the eastern façade has a framed arched opening with terracotta design of jali
motif. The central entrance is larger than the side ones which are slightly
narrower and dwarfish. There are three terracotta multi-cusped arched mihrabs
in the qibla wall; the central one is larger and the flanking ones narrower and
dwarfish similar to the front façade. The central mihrab is flanked by small
pillars with terracotta at the base and at the capital.
The mosque was restored and repaired by the Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh, and is now a protected monument.
Sources:
This single-domed mosque is locally considered to be contemporary
with Khan Jahan Ali style mosques of Khalifatabad, present date Bagerhat,
Bangladesh. Based on architectural style the date of construction can be estimated
to be early-fifteenth century.
The Bibi Begni Mosque is a Sultanate mosque; that is, a square structure crowned with a single dome. The
mosque is situated on the bank of the Ghoradighi less than half a kilometer to
the west of the Satgumbad Mosque.
The mosque is a square of 56'9" x 56'9" externally
while internally it has a square plan of 32'9" x 32'9". The structure
is a single chamber, roofed over by a hemispherical dome. The eastern façade has
three arched openings to the prayer hall. The dome is internally carried on by
four intersecting arches springing from stone pillars and brick pilasters
attached to the side walls. There are three mihrabs, each aligned with the
three entrances at east and the central portion of the qibla wall is projected
westward from the ground to the roof. Stylistically this kind is known as Khan
Jahan Ali architecture, commonly found in and around south-western part of
Bangladesh.
The square structure is buttressed by four corner turrets. These
turrets end at the level of parapet walls and ribbed in typical Bengali Sultanate
fashion. The façades are capped by curvilinear cornices of pre-Mughal type. Exterior
façades are of plain brick texture with arched opening. The central entrance of
the eastern façade has a framed arched opening with terracotta design of jali
motif. The central entrance is larger than the side ones which are slightly
narrower and dwarfish. There are three terracotta multi-cusped arched mihrabs
in the qibla wall; the central one is larger and the flanking ones narrower and
dwarfish similar to the front façade. The central mihrab is flanked by small
pillars with terracotta at the base and at the capital.
The mosque was restored and repaired by the Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh, and is now a protected monument.
Sources: