Star Mosque Mosque

Address: Armanitola, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Hours: Daily dawn-dusk

Admission: Free (donations accepted)

The Star Mosque (often called Tara Masjid) is a small historic mosque in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, noted for its decorative star motifs in tile and glass mosaic. It is an urban religious site that attracts both worshippers and visitors interested in its ornamentation.

The mosque’s exterior and interior contain numerous star-shaped motifs formed from pieces of ceramic, glass and mirrorwork, giving it a distinctive appearance among Dhaka’s historic mosques. The building is compact and typical of dense historic neighbourhood mosques in the city.

The mosque was constructed in earlier centuries and has been subject to renovations and decorative additions over time that created the present mosaic surface. It continues to function as an active place of worship for the local community.

The mosque is located in the Armanitola area of Old Dhaka, within the dense urban fabric of the historic city centre.

• Decorative motif: Known locally as Tara Masjid in Old Dhaka and noted for its distinctive star-shaped tile and mosaic decorations on the exterior and interior.

From Shahbagh or Motijheel, take a rickshaw into Old Dhaka’s Armanitola area. The lanes are narrow; drop-off points are on the main roads and expect a short walk. Nearest major landmark: Lalbagh Fort is roughly 2-3 km away.

• Visit early morning to see light through the mosaic tiles and avoid the mid-day crowd.
• Bring modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees; a wrap is useful for quick cover-ups.
• Look up: many of the mosque's star motifs are made from pieces of imported blue and white Chinese porcelain-inspect at eye level and on the dome surfaces.