The Sura Mosque () is a historical mosque in Ghoraghat Upazila of Dinajpur District in the division of Rangpur Division, Bangladesh. It is a fine example of the Mughal architecture. It is believed that it was constructed during the Bengal Sultanate of Hussain Shahi dynasty in the 16th century, based on its architectural design and level of craftsmanship.
Location and history
The Sura Mosque is situated in Ghorahat Upazila in Dinajpur District, approximately from Upazila headquarters. There is no inscription tablet at the mosque, but it has been dated to the early 16th century in the light of its close links with dated monuments of similar style. An inscription from the time of Alauddin Hussain Shah, dated at was discovered in the village Champatali, a few miles away from the place. It records the construction of a mosque, and if this inscription describes the mosque at Sura, the year 1504
Common Era is the date of its construction.
Description
The mosque stands on a raised mound of earth and is approached from the east by a flight of steps. It has a single dome over one large square room, and a verandah that has three domes.
[ It has a square prayer chamber, flanked on the east by a foreroom that measures externally. At one time it was surrounded by high walls, which is a style otherwise unknown in Bengal.][
]
The kiblah wall contains three semicircular mihrab niches with cusped arches, each set within an ornamented rectangular frame. The central mihrab is the largest of the three, and is of stone. The brick walls are faced with stone slab from within and the outside surfaces have some evidence of rich carving work of terracotta.
Gallery
File:সুরা মসজিদ দিনাজপুর জেলার ঘোড়াঘাট উপজেলার অন্তর্গত সুরা নামক স্থানে অবস্থিত।.jpg|The archeological mosque complex
File:সুরা মসজিদ.jpg|Full view of the mosque complex
File:স্থাপত্য ঐতিহ্যর অপরুপ নিদর্শন সুরা মসজিদ.jpg|Gate arch
File:সূরা মসজিদের ভিতর অংশ৪.jpg|Mihrab of the mosque
File:Sura Mosque Terakota 6.jpg|Terracotta on the wall
File:Sura Mosque Terakota 7.jpg|Terracotta art
File:Door of Sura Mosque.jpg|Main entrance
File:Main Door of Sura Mosque.jpg|Side view of main entrance
See also
-
Islam in Bangladesh
-
List of mosques in Bangladesh
External links
