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Jhenaidah, Khulna

Barobazar Mosques

A cluster of Sultanate-period brick mosques, many uncovered from earth mounds by excavation, around an old settlement on the Jashore–Jhenaidah highway.

Local food to try

  • Khejur gur

    Barobazar Mosques

    In winter, patali sold beside the highway.

  • Rice and fish

    Barobazar Mosques

    A simple meal at a highway hotel in Barobazar or Kaliganj.

Where to eat

Where to stay

  • Jashore or Jhenaidah town

    Jashore / Jhenaidah

    Barobazar lies between the two, so stay in either and visit for the day.

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History

For centuries the mounds around Barobazar were just part of the farmland. Excavations by the Department of Archaeology, mostly from the 1990s on, revealed what lay beneath: a series of brick mosques of the Bengal Sultanate, along with tanks and the traces of a substantial town of the 15th and 16th centuries.

The mosques are typical of the period — square or rectangular halls with domes, thick walls, curved cornices and terracotta decoration on the walls and mihrabs. Among the best known are the Galakata, Jor Bangla and Satgachhia mosques; several have been restored and are again used for prayer.

Local tradition links Barobazar with the warrior-saint Khan Jahan Ali, said to have passed this way on his road to Bagerhat, and with the folk story of Gazi, Kalu and Champaboti, still sung in the region. Whatever the legends, the site is one of the richest groups of early Muslim monuments in south-western Bangladesh.

Tour plans

The mosques of Barobazar

Half day

  1. Step 1: Bus to Barobazar

    Take any bus on the Jashore–Jhenaidah highway and get off at Barobazar.

  2. Step 2: Hire a van

    Agree a route and a time with a van or auto-rickshaw driver who knows the mosques.

  3. Step 3: Galakata and Jor Bangla

    See two of the best-known mosques and their terracotta.

  4. Step 4: Satgachhia and the tanks

    Continue to the Satgachhia mosque and the old tanks around the site.

  5. Step 5: Lunch and onward

    Eat by the highway, then go on to Jhenaidah or back to Jashore.

Plan your visit

Best time to visit

October to February, in the morning or late afternoon

How to get there

On the Jashore–Jhenaidah highway, roughly midway between the two towns: under an hour by any bus on that road. Get off at Barobazar and use a van or battery auto-rickshaw to go between the mosques.

Travel tips

  • The mosques are spread over several kilometres — hire a van or auto-rickshaw for an hour or two rather than walking it all.
  • Several mosques are in use: dress modestly, remove shoes where asked, and avoid prayer times.
  • Do not climb on the excavated walls or touch the terracotta.
  • Ask locals for the less-visited mosques; signposting is limited.
  • Carry water and wear a hat — there is little shade between sites.

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