Sixty Dome Mosque

The Sixty Dome Mosque (Shat Gombuj Masjid) is a large 15th-century mosque complex near Bagerhat in Khulna Division, Bangladesh, and a key example of medieval Islamic architecture in the Bengal region. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site noted for its scale and brick construction.

Architectural highlights include a broad prayer hall divided into multiple aisles with numerous domed bays, a plain exterior punctuated by arched entrances and an adjacent minaret and courtyard areas. The mosque’s name refers to a traditional count of domes, while the plan and massing create a visually striking, repetitive rhythm of arches and vaults.

Constructed under the patronage of the local ruler and saint Khan Jahan Ali in the 15th century, the mosque formed part of a larger settlement and administrative centre that included waterways, tombs and civic structures. Over time the complex has been preserved and restored as a major monument of pre-Mughal Bengal.

The mosque is located near the town of Bagerhat in Khulna Division and is accessible by regional roads from nearby towns, serving as a major historic and religious landmark in southwestern Bangladesh.

• Date and patronage: Built in the 15th century under the patronage of Khan Jahan Ali, the mosque's local name means 'Sixty Dome Mosque' although the exact number of domes differs from the name.
• UNESCO site and regional importance: Part of the historic mosque city of Bagerhat, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage property and is one of the largest and most important pre-Mughal mosques in the region.

What to See #

• Prayer hall and bays: The main prayer hall is a large quadrilateral brick structure divided into multiple aisles and domed bays, designed for congregational worship and originally surrounded by auxiliary buildings.
• Complex and ancillary structures: The mosque complex includes courtyards, a minaret and numerous tombs and structures associated with the 15th-century settlement established by regional governors and patrons.