WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Bagerhat -- a Cradle of Muslim Religion in Bangladesh

Situated in the suburbs of Bagerhat, at the meeting-point of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, this ancient city, formerly known as Khalifatabad, was founded by the Turkish general Khan Jahan Ali in the 15th century.

Bagerhat has more historical monuments in its surrounding area, mostly mosques, than any other city in Bangladesh, except Dhaka. In 1985, UNESCO declared the ancient mosque city a World Heritage Site.

The main mosques, all built in the middle of the 15th century, are in one long area, starting about 4 km west of Bagerhat, which is on the Bhairab River. The countryside is tranquil and beautiful.

The main mosques, Hindu temples and historical sites are: 

• Shait Gumbad Mosque - Built in 1459, the same year that Khan Jahan died, this mosque has numerous little domes and four short towers at the corners. It is the largest and most magnificent traditional mosque in the country. Well-maintained and typical of the Mughal Khan Jahan style, it is a heavy brick building with two-meter thick walls and a dark veneer of age. Shait Gumbad means “the temple with the 60 domes-but it actually has 77 domes, some 60m long with 35 arched doorways. Inside is a huge sanctuary with 60 stone columns and arches to support the domes.

• Mazhar Khan Jahan Ali - The tomb of Khan Jahan is the only monument to retain its original cupolas. The mausoleum and the nearby Dargah Mosque are enclosed by a massive wall with short towers at each corner and archways on the front and back. There is a tiny bazaar with teashops that cater to pilgrims who buy rosewater and joss sticks as offerings. The main entrance faces an archway leading to a pond where the faithful bathe before entering. The interior was once beautiful with coloured tiles and moulding around the doorways but most of that is gone.

• Nine-Domed Mosque - Recently repaired, this is an impressive, elegant structure with three arched entrances on each side, massive walls and nine low domes supported on four slender stone columns. The mihrabs are embellished with terracotta floral scrolls and foliage motifs.

• Khodla Math Temple - Built 175 years after the mosques, this Hindu temple, one of the tallest Hindu structures built in Bangladesh, is the equivalent of six storeys high. The impressive brick tower looks like a giant beehive. Legend has it that it was a memorial to a court adviser during Mughal times. The entrance is badly weathered but on one side you can see some delicate terracotta artwork. There is more jungle in this area than paddy and there are lotus-filled ponds, some ancient, that have a variety of bird life. With the Sundarbans so close, there are reports of occasional crocodile attacks in the waterways around Bagerhat.

Unfortunately, Bagerhat lacks any decent hotels, so a day trip from Khulna is necessary. From Khulna, you can get to Bagerhat by a 45-minute bus trip from Rupsa (just near Khulna) or by train which also departs from Rupsa. Khodla Math is 11 km outside Bagerhat, just outside the village of Ayodhya.

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