Kartalab Khan Mosque, Mughal mosque in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Kartalab Khan Mosque is a Mughal-era structure in Old Dhaka built entirely from brick, rising on a raised platform with five domes mounted on octagonal supports. Rectangular rooms tucked beneath the platform serve as commercial spaces that support the mosque's upkeep.
Construction took place between 1700 and 1704 under architect Murshid Quli Khan, followed by significant restoration work in the 1800s directed by Mirza Golam Pir. These 19th-century renovations preserved the mosque's integrity for future generations.
The mosque remains a working place of worship where people gather for daily prayers, while the ground floor bustles with merchants who rent spaces below the prayer halls. This blend of faith and commerce shapes how the place functions in the neighborhood today.
The mosque is located in the Begum Bazar area of Old Dhaka and is best accessed on foot while navigating the crowded lanes of the historic district. Visitors should arrive prepared for confined spaces and exercise respect during prayer times throughout the day.
A stepped well lies to the east of the structure, representing the only surviving example of this architectural feature across the entire Bengal region. This hidden water source reveals how sophisticated water management techniques were woven into the mosque's original design.
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