Shaat Gombuj Mosque

Shaat Gombuj Mosque (Shaat Gombuj Mosque) is a world heritage mosque of Bangladesh located in Bagerhat district of Khulna division . Since there is no inscription on the mosque, no exact information is available about the foundation and construction period of the Sixty Domed Mosque. However, looking at the architecture of the mosque, it is believed that Khan-e-Jahan built it in the 1500s. The stones used in this mosque were brought from Rajmahal. Sixty-domed mosque is one of the world heritage sites of Bangladesh. In 1983, UNESCO gave the status of Bagerhat as a World Heritage Site.

Structure and Details of the Sixty Domed Mosque The mosque is about 160 feet long from north to south and about 104 feet from east to west. And on the inside, it is about 143 feet long in the north-south direction and about 88 feet in the east-west direction. The walls of the mosque are about 8.5 feet thick. The eastern wall of the mosque has 11 large arched doors. The middle door is the largest of the other doors. And there are 14 doors on the north and south walls. There are four round minarets at the four corners of the mosque. Each minaret is topped by a round dome. The minarets are slightly higher than the roof cornice.

One of the two minarets in front of the mosque is called Roshan Kotha and the other is called Andhar Kotha. Inside the minaret there is a stairwell, earlier there was a system to give adhan from this minaret. There are a total of sixty columns or pillars inside the mosque. The pillars are arranged in total 10 in 6 rows from north to south. Each pillar is made of stone but 5 pillars are covered with bricks. Domes are built on the roof around the pillars. Sixty-domed mosque has a total of 77 domes in 11 rows. And the total number of domes including four domes on the minaret is 81. Except for the seven domes in the middle row of the mosque's mihrab, the rest of the 74 domes are hemispherical.

There are 10 mihrabs on the western wall of the mosque. The central mihrab is large and elaborate. There are 5 mihrabs on the south side and 4 on the north side. On the north side there is 1 small door in place of 1 mihrab. According to many, Khan-i-Jahan used this mosque as a court house and this door was his entrance. About 500 meters behind the six-domed mosque is the Bibi Begnir mosque. If you have time, you can visit the flower-crafted mosque. 500 meters behind the Bibi Begni mosque is another mosque named Chunakhola. Also on the side of the highway is the Singair Mosque.

To enter the premises of the Sixty-domed mosque, a ticket is required at Tk 20 per person. Entry ticket for foreign visitors is Rs.200. (Ticket price subject to change from time to time)

The fort is closed for full day on Sunday and opens from 2.00 pm on Monday. During summer the fort is open from 10 am to 6 pm. During winter the fort opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm. The fort is kept closed from 1 pm to 1.30 pm both in winter and summer. However, the fort is closed on Fridays from 12:30 to 3:30 for Jumma prayers.

A number of buses leave Meghna, Banphool, Falguni, Ara, Tauri, Baleshwar, Hamim and Dola from Syedabad Bus Terminal in Dhaka every day from 6 am to 10 am and from 7 pm to 10 pm. Buses of Sohag, Shakura, Hanif, Comfort Line, Dola Paribahan and Eagle Paribahan depart from Gabtali Bus Terminal. These buses cost 650 to 800 taka per person. From Bagerhat bus stand, one can go to Shatgambooz Mosque by a rickshaw fare of only 30 to 40 taka.

Besides, you can go to Shat Gumbuj Mosque by taking intercity train Sundarban Express from Dhaka to Khulna and from there by bus or CNG. It will take one to one and a half hours from Khulna.

Accommodation in Bagerhat is not very good, but there are some residential hotels of medium quality. Mumtaz Hotel on Rail Road has less facilities but the service quality is relatively good, but the cost is a little higher. Apart from this, you can also look for accommodation in other hotels around Mumtaz Hotel. And since Bagerhat is close to Khulna, you can stay in a residential hotel even if you want to go to Khulna.

There are some decent quality food hotels so you can go to hotels near the bus stand or dargah to eat. But definitely know about the food quality and price.