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.
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