Bussheba
Log in

Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi

Darasbari Mosque and Madrasa

The roofless brick ruins of a 15th-century sultanate mosque and the excavated foundations of a great madrasa, in the fields of old Gaur near the border.

Local food to try

  • Mangoes

    Darasbari Mosque and Madrasa

    In season, the orchards around the site and the Kansat market sell fresh mangoes.

  • Kalai ruti

    Darasbari Mosque and Madrasa

    Hot black-gram flatbread with bhorta, back in town in the evening.

Where to eat

  • Sona Masjid and Kansat eateries

    Shibganj, Chapainawabganj

    Simple rice hotels and tea stalls near the land port and along the main road.

    Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Where to stay

  • Chapainawabganj town

    Darasbari Mosque and Madrasa

    Simple hotels about an hour away; most visitors return to town or to Rajshahi for the night.

    Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

History

Darasbari Mosque was built in the reign of Sultan Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah — an inscription dates it to 1479. It is one of the largest brick mosques of the sultanate, with a prayer hall and a veranda once covered by many domes. The domes have fallen, but the walls, arched openings and terracotta decoration still show its scale.

A little way off lie the foundations of the Darasbari Madrasa, uncovered by excavation, with rows of rooms around a large courtyard. It dates from the time of Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah in the early 1500s. The name “Darasbari” itself means “house of learning”.

Together they show that this corner of Gaur was a place of worship and study at the height of the Bengal Sultanate. The site is quiet and seldom crowded, set among fields and mango trees.

Tour plans

Gaur monuments day trip

One day

  1. Step 1: Early start from town

    Leave Chapainawabganj town by bus or CNG towards Sona Masjid, passing Kansat.

  2. Step 2: Choto Sona Mosque

    Start at the best-preserved sultanate mosque, with its carved stone facade.

  3. Step 3: Darasbari Mosque and Madrasa

    Take an auto-rickshaw to the ruins and walk round the mosque and the madrasa foundations.

  4. Step 4: Tohakhana

    See Shah Shuja’s building by the pond, the mosque and the saint’s tomb beside it.

  5. Step 5: Back via Kansat

    Stop at Kansat market on the way back — in season, for mangoes.

Plan your visit

Best time to visit

October to February, in the morning or late afternoon

How to get there

From Chapainawabganj town, take a bus or CNG towards Sona Masjid (about an hour). From the Choto Sona Mosque area, Darasbari is a short auto-rickshaw ride along village roads.

Travel tips

  • Combine it with Choto Sona Mosque, Tohakhana and Kotwali Darwaza — they are all within a few kilometres.
  • The ruins are fragile: do not climb on the walls or remove bricks.
  • Dress modestly; parts of the site are still treated as a place of prayer.
  • There is little shade or food at the site — carry water.
  • The area is close to the border; keep your ID with you.

Discover