Bangladesh

Bagerhat

WHS Score 2.2 Votes 16 Average 2.56

The Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat comprises the remains of a 15th-century city renowned for its early Muslim architecture.

Bagerhat, the historical Khalifatabad, was founded by Khan Jahan, an Islamic preacher probably of Turkic origin. He adorned the city with mosques, roads, bridges, palaces and reservoirs constructed from baked brick. He established all of this within a short time span while introducing a distinct architectural style. The unique Shait-Gumbad mosque is a central feature.

Community Perspective: the site essentially consists of two locations a few km apart - the impressive main mosque and the mausoleum which attracts plenty of local worshippers. Those who have visited the Bangladeshi Hindu temples (from a later period) will notice the “similarity of building materials and, to some extent, style and decoration”.

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Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat (ID: 321)
Country
Bangladesh
Status
Inscribed 1985 Site history
History of Bagerhat
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • iv
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Religious structure: Islamic
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
View all (17) .
Connections of Bagerhat
Geography
  • Ganges Basin
    On the Bhairab river, considered a tributary of the Ganges
Trivia
Architecture
World Heritage Process
  • Incorrect UNESCO 'Number of locations'
    shown as only having a single location but apparently having 2. "Today,the monuments of Khalifata-bad, which have been partially disengaged from the vegetation, may be divided into two principal zones 6.5 kms apart : to the West, around the mosque of Shait Gurrbad, renowned for its large prayer room, divided into seven longitudinal naves; and to the East, around the mausoleum of Khan Jahan. More than 50 monuments have been catalogued: in the first group, the mosques of Singar, Bibi Begni and Clumakkola; and in the second, the mosques of Reza Khoda, Zindavir and Ranvijoypur." (AB evaluation).
  • Inscribed on a single criterion only
    iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
  • First inscriptions
    Bangladesh: two inscriptions in 1985, with Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat as the lowest number
Religion and Belief
  • Sufism
    Founded by the Sufi Satin Khan Jahan. His mausoleum is within the inscribed area.
  • Notable mosques
    Mosque of Shait Gumbad (or Sixty Dome Mosque) and several others - 15th century - Sunni
Constructions
  • Tombs
    Tomb of Khan Jahan
  • Cisterns
    The quality of the infrastructures - the supply and evacuation of water, the cisterns and reservoirs, the roads and bridges - all reveal a perfect mastery of the techniques of planning and a will towards spatial organization. (unesco website)
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
Visiting conditions
News

No news.

Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

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First published: 16/01/14.

Anonymous

Bagerhat

Bagerhat (Inscribed)

Bagerhat by Els Slots

I had been there once to visit the sites including the tomb of Khan Jahan Ali. Beautiful places. The mosque built in a unique architectural fashion and also managed nicely up to this time. There is an amazing pond full of fresh water in front of the Tomb of the Saint Khan Jahan Ali. I strongly recommend the tourists to visit the site.

I am a professional in the engineering core of the Largest integrated Dairy Farm of the world as per Guinness book of record.

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First published: 02/01/07.

Els Slots

Bagerhat

Bagerhat (Inscribed)

Bagerhat by Els Slots

The lost city of Bagerhat now mainly consists of a number of mosques and the tomb of its founder, Khan Jahan. We start our tour at the 60-tower mosque (there are actually 77). Because a service is about to start, we do a quick round on the inside. 60 pillars, now mostly covered in cement, hold the roof of this largest mosque of its time.

On the other side of the road is another small mosque, built in the traditional brick style. A few kilometers down the road is the shrine of Khan Jahan. This still is an active site of worship. It attracts both visitors and beggars.

Because it's Friday when we visit, the museum is closed and the mosques are reserved for praying. There are a lot of Bangladeshi daytrippers around. Most of them are gathered near the large pond behind the Khan Jahan tomb. They are staring at / feeding a crocodile that lives in this pond.

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First published: 20/02/06.

Solivagant

Bagerhat

Bagerhat (Inscribed)

Bagerhat by Solivagant

These inscribed monuments are titled “Bagherat” after the modern town situated nearby but are in reality those from city of Khalifatabad built in the 15th century by the Turkish Sufi general Khan Jahan Ali who became widely known as a warrior-saint. Little of the city remains visible apart from a number of Islamic buildings – mainly mosques, but also the tomb of Khan Jahan himself. These are important architecturally for being pre-Mughul in design. However the location is perhaps more highly revered by Bangladeshis as the country’s Islamic cradle than the buildings might appear to justify to the average non Bangladeshi visitor or architectural expert!

The site is easy to get to from Khulna (and fits in well with a visit to the WHS of The Sundarbans) but the mosques are scattered in 2 main groups across several kilometres and require time to visit even if you have a car. The most significant building, is that of the Shait Gumbad Mosque (photo) said to be “the most magnificent traditional mosque in the country”. There are at least 7 other mosques to visit – mainly small square or rectangular buildings in brick with terracotta decoration and varying numbers of domes. At the Shait Gumba you are likely to be welcomed and shown the interior by the friendly Imam but you will probably be the only person around as you search out the other mosques by following footpaths among fields and ponds – in itself a pleasant way of spending time! The …

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