Sat Gombuj Mosque

The Sat Gombuj mosque was built in Aurangzeb's reign, by tradition under the governor Shaista Khan, on what was then the bank of the Buriganga, a rectangular Mughal prayer hall with three domes over the roof and four octagonal corner towers each capped with a small dome, which together give the seven of the name. It is a good example of the Mughal provincial style in Bengal, with plastered brick, engaged corner turrets and a plain interior. The river has since shifted well away, so the mosque now stands inland among modern building in Mohammadpur, which removes the setting it was designed for. A tomb of the same period stands beside it. It is a working mosque and small.

History

The mosque is one of several built in Dhaka in the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and it is traditionally attributed to Shaista Khan, Mughal governor of Bengal, though no inscription on the building confirms it. It stands on a buttressed bank some 4.6 metres high above what was once a wide flood plain (Wikipedia, Sat Gambuj Mosque).

The main sights

• Three domes and four corner turrets - the seven the name counts.
• Mughal provincial style in brick - the regional manner of the 1680s.
• A plain plastered interior - the prayer hall as built.
• The tomb alongside - the contemporary structure beside the mosque.

When to go

November to March, outside prayer times. One hour. Friday midday is not a time for visitors. Modest dress and shoes off. Mornings are quieter.

Before you go

The river it was built beside has moved and the modern setting is unremarkable. It is small and the visit is short. Access depends on prayer times. There is no interpretation on site.

Nearby

Central Dhaka is east; the Parliament House lies north-east.

Key facts