What does Sat Gambuj Mosque mean and where is it located?
Sat Gambuj means seven domes, referring to the seven bulbous domes that crown the mosque's roof. The mosque is located in the Mohammadpur area near the northwestern outskirts of Dhaka, in the Dhaka District of Bangladesh.
Who built Sat Gambuj Mosque in Dhaka?
Construction of Sat Gambuj Mosque is traditionally attributed to Shaista Khan, who served as Mughal governor of Bengal during the period 1678-1684. However, no inscriptions on the structure confirm this attribution.
When was Sat Gambuj Mosque built?
Sat Gambuj Mosque dates from the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Shaista Khan's governorship of Bengal ran from 1678 to 1684, placing the mosque's probable construction within the 17th century.
What architectural style is Sat Gambuj Mosque?
Sat Gambuj Mosque is a fine example of provincial Mughal-style architecture introduced in the 17th century in what is now Bangladesh. Its exterior is considered the most innovative of all Dhaka's Mughal-period monuments.
What are the distinctive features of Sat Gambuj Mosque's exterior?
The mosque has seven bulbous domes, two enormous double-storied corner pavilions at each end, three cusped entrance arches on the east face, and slender engaged columns with bulbous bases marking the central bay. The pavilions create the impression of five exterior bays when viewed from the east, though the mosque itself is a three-domed rectangular structure.
What decorates the mihrab inside Sat Gambuj Mosque?
The central mihrab has two rows of cusping and a surface embellished with moulded plaster relief. Sources compare its ornateness to the mihrab in the mosque of Haji Khwaja Shahbaz.