Pandua, Archaeological site in Malda, India
Pandua is an archaeological site in the Malda district of West Bengal. The site spreads across a flat plain, where walls, arches and low brick and stone foundations appear between fields and scattered trees.
The settlement grew in the 14th century when rulers from the sultanate chose it as their seat and commissioned mosques and administrative buildings. In the following decades the center of power shifted to Gaur and the site was gradually abandoned.
Visitors notice the shift between open courtyards and rows of columns that once framed prayer spaces. Inscriptions on wall stones show Arabic script and geometric patterns that sit on the surfaces.
Those who want to visit can reach the site from Malda town by local bus or hired vehicle. The months from October to March offer more comfortable weather for walking around outside.
One of the larger mosques at the site followed a building plan modeled on Syrian examples, with multiple dome structures over a rectangular layout. Despite the damage, the remains still show how the spaces were arranged in relation to one another.
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