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Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi

Choto Sona Mosque

A carved stone mosque from the Sultanate era, at the edge of the old capital Gaur.

Local food to try

  • Mangoes

    Choto Sona Mosque

    Chapainawabganj’s Fazli, Langra, Khirsapat and more, May to July.

  • Kalai ruti

    Choto Sona Mosque

    Chapainawabganj’s own black-gram flatbread, eaten with bhorta or beef.

Where to eat

  • Shibganj and the Sona Masjid area

    Shibganj

    Simple local eateries and tea stalls.

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  • Chapainawabganj town

    Chapainawabganj

    More choice, and the place to try kalai ruti.

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Where to stay

  • Chapainawabganj town

    Chapainawabganj

    Simple hotels, about an hour from the mosque.

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  • Rajshahi city

    Rajshahi city

    More hotels, and the trip is possible in a long day.

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Culture

Chapainawabganj is the heart of the mango country, and Shibganj’s orchards and mango markets are busiest from May to July. The district is also the home of Gombhira, a folk song of satire and dialogue performed at local gatherings.

History

The Choto Sona Mosque, the “Small Golden Mosque”, was built during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah (1493–1519), one of the greatest rulers of independent Sultanate Bengal. Its name is said to come from the gilding that once covered its domes.

Unlike most mosques in Bengal, which are of brick, it is faced with stone, and its walls, doorways and mihrabs are covered in finely carved patterns of vines, rosettes and hanging motifs. It is often called the gem of Sultanate architecture in Bangladesh.

The mosque stands near the border at the edge of Gaur, the old capital of Bengal, whose ruins spread across into India. Nearby in Shibganj are other remains of the same era, including the Tahkhana complex and the mosque and tomb of Shah Niamatullah.

Tour plans

Sultanate Shibganj

1 day

  1. Step 1: Early start

    Leave Rajshahi early, via Chapainawabganj, to reach Shibganj by mid-morning.

  2. Step 2: Choto Sona Mosque

    Walk around the outside to see the carved stone, then the mihrabs inside.

  3. Step 3: Tahkhana and Shah Niamatullah

    Visit the nearby Tahkhana complex and Shah Niamatullah’s mosque and tomb.

  4. Step 4: Mango orchards

    In season, stop at an orchard or a mango market on the way back.

  5. Step 5: Kalai ruti in town

    Eat kalai ruti in Chapainawabganj before the bus back to Rajshahi.

Plan your visit

Best time to visit

October to March for the sites; May to July if you want to see the mango orchards in season

How to get there

Bus to Chapainawabganj (about 1.5 hours), then on towards Sona Masjid near the border, another hour or so.

Travel tips

  • This is a working mosque: dress modestly, women should cover their hair, and take off your shoes before entering.
  • Visit outside prayer times, especially Friday midday.
  • The mosque is close to the border — carry photo ID and do not wander towards the border area.
  • Do not touch or climb on the carved stonework.
  • Combine it with Tahkhana and Shah Niamatullah’s mosque in a single trip.

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