Allakuri Mosque

Allakuri Mosque (Bengali: আল্লাকুরি মসজিদ), located in Mohammadpur Colony area near Sat Masjid Road of Dhaka, is an example of the imperial Mughal architecture in Bangladesh. The mosque was tentatively built in 1680 and is the earliest known square single-domed Mughal style mosque in Bengal.[1]

Allakuri Mosque
আল্লাকুরি মসজিদ
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Location
LocationDhaka, Bangladesh
Architecture
StyleMughal architecture
Date established1680
Specifications
Dome(s)Single
Minaret(s)Four

Architecture

The mosque has a square dimension with internal measurement of 3.81 meter*3.81 meter.

It has four octagonal corner towers (minarets). The towers have kalasa vases at their base, are divided into sections by raised bands at regular intervals and are crowned by a kiosk and parapet.

The mosque can be entered through three doorways each in the center of each wall except for the west sided wall(Qibla side). The west sided wall has three semi-octagonal arched mihrabs.[2] The walls of the mosque are thick and that keeps the interior cool in summer.[3]

The square prayer hall is roofed over with the single dome. The dome is carried on squinch or octagonal drum. The dome seems to have a Persian architectural influence.[1] The dome was previously crowned with a lotus and kalasa finial.[2]

There was a stone inscription on top of the east-sided entrance of the mosque. It is told that the inscription was taken away by the king of Bhawal in last century.[3]

Renovation and changes

The lotus on the top of the dome was removed during a renovation. Also, the three mihrabs on the west-sided wall were constructed.

In recent times, the mosque was extended in east, north and south side with tin sheds without breaking the original structures. As a result, the whole structure cannot be seen from outside now but the top of the mosque can be seen. The inner and outside of the mosque was painted newly during renovation.

Protection

As the mosque has archaeological and architectural significance, the mosque needs to be protected under archaeological department of the government to save from decay.

See also

References
  1. Imam, Sheikh Muhammad Najmul (September 2000). Mosque Architecture:Formulation of Design Criteria and Standards in the Context of Bangladesh (PDF) (Master of Architecture thesis). Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
  2. Bari, MA (2012). "Allakuri Mosque". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  3. Islam, Md. Aminul (July 2014). আদর্শ সমাজ বিনির্মাণে মসজিদের ইমামদের ভূমিকাঃ বাংলাদেশ প্রেক্ষাপট (PDF) (M.Phil) (in Bengali). University of Dhaka.

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