Kusumba Mosque

The Kusumba mosque was built in 1558, in the last years of the independent sultanate under the Suri dynasty, and it is unusual for Bengal in being faced entirely in carved stone over its brick core: a rectangular hall with six domes, corner towers, and mihrabs carved with vines, lotus and hanging chains in shallow relief, with a raised stone platform in one corner that probably served a governor or the women of a household. The curved Bengali cornice is kept despite the stone facing. It stands beside a large tank in open country and has become familiar nationally from the five taka note. It survived the 1897 earthquake with damage that is still visible in places.

What you actually see

• Stone facing over brick - rare in Bengal, carved throughout.
• Vine and lotus mihrabs - the shallow relief of the west wall.
• The raised stone platform - the elevated bay inside the hall.
• The tank beside it - the water the mosque stands over.

When to go

November to March. One hour. Morning light suits the carving. It is a working mosque; visit outside prayer times. It is remote and quiet.

Honest expectations

It is small and the visit is short for the distance travelled. Access depends on prayer times. There are no facilities at the village. Roads in Naogaon district are slow.

Nearby

Naogaon is north-east; Mahasthangarh lies east.