Mekurtari Shahi Mosque

{{Short description|Mosque in Kurigram, Bangladesh}}

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Mekurtari Shahi Mosque

| native_name = মেকুরটারী শাহী মসজিদ

| native_name_lang = bn

| image = মেকুরটারী শাহী মসজিদ.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| status = Mosque

| functional_status = Active

| capacity =

| location = Baparipara, Rajarhat Upazila, Kurigram District

| religious_affiliation = Islam

| coordinates = {{coord|25|48|1|N|89|32|59|E|region:BD_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| map_type = Bangladesh

| map_size = 250

| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the mosque in Bangladesh

| country = Bangladesh

| established = Mughal era

| founded_by = Shamir Uddin Bapari

| site_area =

| length = {{cvt|9.75|m}}

| width = {{cvt|3.05|m}}

| dome_quantity = Three

| minaret_quantity = 14

| materials = Brick

| inscriptions =

| architecture_style = Mughal

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Mosque architecture}}

}}

The Mekurtari Shahi Mosque ({{langx|bn|মেকুরটারী শাহী মসজিদ}}) is a mosque located in Baparipara, Rajarhat Upazila, in the Kurigram District of Bangladesh. It was built during the Mughal era. The Bangladeshi Department of Archaeology designated the mosque as a protected monument.{{cite web |title=Antiquities of Rangpur Division |url=http://www.archaeology.gov.bd/site/page/97f2c70d-9db0-4b8b-b547-758d5e232a2b/ |website=Department of Archaeology (Bangladesh) |date= |access-date=2 October 2024}} The Mekuratari Shahi Mosque is an ancient and historic religious structure located in Kurigram district, a border district of Bangladesh. It is situated approximately {{convert|1|km}} northeast of Rajarhat Upazila headquarters in the village of Baparipara.{{cite web |title=The Shahi Mosque |url=https://beautifulbangladesh.gov.bd/district-destination/kurigram/heritage/218 |website=Beautiful Bangladesh |publisher=Bangladesh Tourism Board |access-date=2 October 2024}}

History

No inscription has been found in the mosque, making it impossible to determine its exact date of construction. However, due to similarities in architectural style with Mughal architecture, it is believed that the mosque was built before 1820, during the Mughal period. According to local legend, about 1720 the village zamindar, Shamir Uddin Biyapari, returned from performing Hajj on foot and constructed this mosque.{{cite news |last1=Habiba Rahman Uzra |date=16 September 2021 |title=আধুনিক ও মোগল স্থাপত্যরীতিতে মেকুরটারী শাহী মসজিদ |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/feature/islamic-life/2021/09/16/1073796 |access-date=2 October 2024 |work=Kaler Kantho |language=bn-BD}}

Architectural style

The mosque measures {{convert|32|ft|m|order=flip}} long and {{convert|10|ft|m|order=flip}} wide. It is surrounded by a protective wall that is {{convert|3|ft|m|order=flip}} high. In front of the mosque, there are three doors, a beautiful entrance arch, two minarets, and four tall minarets at the corners. Next to these minarets, there are eight smaller minarets. In the center of the roof there are three large domes. A vast pond is located in front of the mosque.{{cite news |script-title=bn:তিনশ' বছরের শাহী মসজিদ |url=https://www.kholakagojbd.com/prints/70946 |access-date=3 October 2024 |work=Khola Kagoj |date=13 February 2021}}

Gallery

মেকুরটারী শাহী মসজিদ 02.jpg|The mosque, from the north

মেকুরটারী শাহী মসজিদ 04.jpg|The mosque entrance

See also

{{stack|{{portal|Bangladesh|Islam}}}}

References

{{Reflist}}