Who built the Kartalab Khan Mosque in Dhaka?
The Kartalab Khan Mosque was built by Nawab Diwan Murshid Quli Khan, also known as Kartalab Khan, between 1700 and 1704 CE. The mosque takes its name from his alias.
Questions about Kartalab Khan Mosque
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is the Kartalab Khan Mosque located?
The Kartalab Khan Mosque is located in the Begum Bazar area of the Old City of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is also known as the Begum Bazar Mosque.
Why is the Baoli at the Kartalab Khan Mosque historically significant?
The Baoli, a stepped well to the east of the mosque's platform, is considered the only known example of its kind in Bengal. Scholars believe it reflects North Indian or Deccan architectural traditions brought to Dhaka by the mosque's builder, who had previously lived in the Deccan.
How many domes does the Kartalab Khan Mosque have?
The Kartalab Khan Mosque is roofed by five domes resting on octagonal drums. Archaeologist Ahmad Hasan Dani noted this as an expansion of the earlier three-domed mosque convention common in the region.
Why is the Kartalab Khan Mosque also called the Begum Bazar Mosque?
The secondary name likely derives from Begum, daughter of Naib-e-Nazim Sharfaraz Khan, who took control of the mosque's associated market in 1777. Her name gave the surrounding locality its name, Begumbazar, and possibly the mosque its alternate designation.
Where is Murshid Quli Khan buried?
Murshid Quli Khan was buried beneath the entrance to the Kartalab Khan Mosque, in accordance with his own wishes. Every person entering the mosque passes over his tomb.