Shat Gombuj Masjid

The most spectacular and magnificent monument of Khalifatabad, stands on the eastern bank of a large water tank, locally known as Ghora dighi. It is about 7km west of Bagerhat town. Khulna-Bagerhat high way passes to the south of the mosque. This most imposing brick-built mosque is commonly known by its highly misleading name of Shat Gambuj Masjid or Sixty Dome Mosque. Actually this is roofed over with 77 squat domes including 7 chauchala or four segmented hut shaped domes in the central row.

It is the largest mosque of medieval Bangladesh with its external dimension 49 meter long and 33 meter wide. The large prayer chamber is provided with 11 arched doorways on the east and 7 each on the north and south. The interior of the mosque is divided into 7 longitudinal aisles and 11 deep bays by 60 stones columns of which five are brick piers. Rows of endless diminishing arches spring from these pillars. These arches support the domes. Recent restoration works have covered those stone columns excepting one.

There are ten concave mihrabs on the western wall of which the central one is of stone while the flanking 9 mihrabs are decorated with terracotta motifs. There is a small arched doorway in the western wall close to the central mihrab. The corner turrets are raised above the slightly curved parapet capped by rounded cupolas. The eastern turrets are tall and have entrances from the anterior of the mosque through staircases while the western turrets are dwarfish without staircases. The facade is relieved with usual curved cornice. Besides, over the central arched doorway there existed a small triangular pediment. After repair this pediment is not seen.