Chatmohor Shahi Masjid is located in the heart of Chatmohar Upazila, 30 kilometers away from Pabna district, a wonderful example of ancient architecture. According to the inscriptions obtained from the mosque, during the reign of Emperor Akbar in 1581 AD, Syed leader Abul Fateh Mohammad Masum Khan’s brother Muhammad bin Turki Khan built the mosque at Qakshal Chatmohar with funding. The construction technique of the three-domed Chatmohar Shahi Mosque is influenced by ancient Sultanate architecture. Chatmohar Shahi Masjid is 45 feet in length, 22 feet 6 inches in width and 45 feet in height.
The ancient sculptures on the walls of Chatmohar Shahi Mosque are the most interesting aspect of the mosque. In the 1980s, the mosque was completely constructed by the Directorate of the Republic of Bangladesh. However, after a few years of reconstruction, the three domes and the roof of the mosque were almost destroyed. Later, the mosque was renovated and declared as a protected antiquities under the Directorate of Archaeology. The Tughra inscription from the Chatmohar Mosque is currently preserved in the Barendra Research Museum, Rajshahi. Thousands of visitors flock every day to see this mosque built 400 years ago.
How to go
From Dhaka’s Kalyanpur, Abdullahpur and Gabtali you can go to Pabna by Sarkar Travels, Pabna Express, Al Hamra Paribahan, Shahjadpur Travels and Shyamoli Paribahan buses. The fare will be 500 to 900 taka per person depending on the bus. From Kamalapur railway station, take the intercity train to South Bengal and get down at Ishwardi Junction by bus or CNG to Pabna district headquarters. Chatmohar Shahi Mosque located 200 yards west of Chatmohar upazila can be reached by bus or CNG from Pabna district city.