GAUR

 A long time ago, this town was the capital of Hindu Kingdom called Lakhnauti. Around 1200, it was conquered by a Muslim named Bakhtiyar Khilji and fell under the Delhi Sultanate control. From that time, it had been controlled by sons of the sultans of Delhi until Fakhr ad-Din established a new independent Islamic kingdom in Bengal and moved the capital to Pandua in 1338. Around 1420, Gaur became the capital again called Jannatabad under the Ilyas Shah Dynasty and saw prosperity. This local dynasty of Bengal was conquered by Humayun of the Mughalid in 1537 and in the same year Sher Shah of the Sur Dynasty, that was struggling with the Mughal for supremacy, seized it. After the devastation by prevalence of the plague in 1575, it was incorporated into the Mughal Empire by the Great Emperor Akbar in 1576. In this area, many mosques built under the Ilyas Shah Dynasty between the late 15th century to the early 16th century remain. (Naoko Fukami)

 

1.BARA SONA MASJID (1526)               

2.DAKHIL DARWAZA (The first half of 16th C.)

3.CHAMKATTI MASJID (The last half ot 15th C. to The first half of 16th C. )  

4.LATTAN MASJID (1475)

5.TANTIPARA MASJID (.1480)              

6.FIRUZ MINAR (1486)

7.LUKOCHOLI DARWAZA (Middle of 16th C.)         

8.CHIKA BUILDING (The last half ot 15th C. to The first half of 16th C. )

9.GUMPTI DARWAZA (1512)              

10.QADAM RASUL (1513)

 


1.BARA SONA MASJID

→Enlargement  Having a common name meaning "Big Golden Mosque" and situated a few hundreds metres Northeast of Dakhil Darwaza, this mosque is said to have been built as Jama Masjid under the Sultan Nusrat Shah in 1526. The inside of this mosque consists of 11 spans in width and 4 spans in depth, though it had been collapsed, leaving only the east corridor with arches and vaulting. The east gate, which faces a lake, still remains. (Matsuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
View from the southeast.
 The prayer room is seen behind
 the south, east and north gate.

 


2.DAKHIL DARWAZA

拡大してみる  As the name of this meaning "entrance gate" suggests, this building seems to have been a major gate to the Gaur castle. Some scholars view it as having been built in the early 16th century, judging from a gate to Bara Sona Masjid, which was a Jama Masjid under Nusrat Shah's reign. Some insist that it was built in 15th century; however, the year of the foundation is hard to determine. The most of the facade is made of reddish bricks and the original height was nearly 20 metres. The central passage forms tunnel with an arch shaped entrance, under which even elephants can pass, extending for 35 metres. There is not so much sculpture but the majestic dodecahedron five-tiered towers at both ends are said to have crowned a small dome on top. (Matsuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
View from the southeast.

 


3.CHAMKATTI MASJID

拡大してみる  The name is said to come from name of a peculiar Muslim group living in Malda area. There is a theory that an inscription by Sultan Yusuf Shah dated in 880AH (1475) belonged to this mosque. The structure is similar to that of Lattan Masjid. It is assumed that it was built between the late 15th century to the early 16th century. (Matsuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
Exterior viewed from the southeast

 


4.LATTAN MASJID

拡大してみる  This mosque has nearly the same square shape as Chamkatti Masjid in Gaur. Regarding the name "Lattan", there are two theories, one that it means a tumpler pigeon, and that it came from the word dancer in the Bengali language, natin. However, it seems more likely to have come from beautifully coloured enameling bricks affixed to the outside walls. An inscription marking the building date of 880AH (1475) has been found nearby, though there is a theory that it belongs to the aforementioned Chamkatti Masjid. In any case, this mosque is assumed to have been built between the late 15th century and the early 16th century. (Matsuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
Exterior viewed from the southeast

 


5.TANTIPARA MASJID

拡大してみる  Inside this brick mosque, all but the central pillars collapsed, but mihrab on the qibla wall is well preserved. The meaning of the common name is "House of weaver", however, this mosque is said to have been built by a high official under the reign of Yusuf Shah around 1480. It is known for its rich decorative patterns covering the facade and the west inside walls. (Matuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
Exterior viewed from the east

 


6.FIRUZ MINAR

拡大する  It is a tower of about 26 metre in height, situated outside the castle, on the southeast side of Dakhil Darwaza. The lower three tiers are polygon-shaped but the upper two tiers above the small roof are circular. There are various theories, such as it having originally been a minaret for a mosque, or a beacon, or it being a monument for victory, etc. Also, there is a theory that the top of the tower was flat, and that it was covered by a small dome. As an inscription bearing the name of King Saif al-Din was found, it is said that it was built either by S. Hamuzah Shah (1412) or S. Firuz Shah (1486), both of whom had the same title of King. However, the current name seems to have come from the latter. (Matsuo Ara)
 Overall view of the south side   

 


7.LUKOCHOLI DARWAZA

拡大してみる  It is a three-tired gate remaining at the southeast side of the Qadam Rasul. It is assumed that it was built as a passage to the religious complex. There is a theory that the name of the gate came from "Luka churi" (hide-and-seek) but another theory assumes that it was originally called "Shahi Darwazah", as it was built by Shah Shjah in the middle of the 16th century. (Matsuo Ara)
View of the east side from the northwest

 


8.CHIKA BUILDING

拡大してみる  It is said this mosque was called "Chika Masjid", since there were numerous bats (chika) living in the building. It has been thought that this was a mausoleum, mosque, or jail, but as there is no remain of mihrab at the west side, it is more believable that this with the other surrounding buildings was buildings for an administrative body. Judging from the vestiges of statues at the entrance and the pillars, it can be seen as having been transformed from a Hindu temple. Its plan, size, structure and style are similar to Eklakhi Tomb in Pandua and it can be assumed that it was built in the 15-16th century. (Matsuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
View from the southwest

 


9.GUMPTI DARWAZA

拡大してみる  Unlike Dakhil Darwaza and Kotwali Darwaza, it has a square plan and it is one of the east gates leading to the Gaur castle. Towers at both ends have only their basements, but the existing towers at the either sides of the central arch-shape entrance, with big domes on the roofs, make this comparatively small gate look imposing. Some scholars connect this building with an inscription marking a founding date of 1512. However, the connection has not been confirmed. Dr. C. Asher adopts a name "Gumti Darwaza". (Matsuo Ara)
View of the west side 

 


10.QADAM RASUL

拡大してみる  This building is known by a black marble stone considered as a "footprint of the prophet" that used to be kept in Pandua. Having a rectangular room surrounded by narrow corridors on three sides, this building is assumed to have been built in 1513 by Sultan Nusrat Shah, as evidenced by an inscription remaining at the entrance. The gate and the other buildings nearby are thought to have been built in the Mughal period. Among these, a building considered to be Fath Khan's tomb has a roof shaping gentle arc, which came to be often seen in various part of South Asia later on; it is a precious historical heritage of the early Bengali architecture. (Matsuo Ara)

 Plan and photos of each part
Qadam Rasul (right) and tomb of  Fath Khan (left)

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