Destination guide
Sixty Dome Mosque (Shat Gambuj Masjid)
ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদ
The name every traveller says first about Bagerhat — the Sixty Dome Mosque. Visitors almost all agree: it is the largest Sultanate-era mosque in Bangladesh and the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat'. Despite the name, there are actually more domes — 77 on the roof plus 4 on the corner towers, 81 in total, as experienced visitors have counted. Red brick walls, the cool shade inside, the red water lilies of Ghora Dighi beside it — many say that even at high noon, stepping inside feels like another world. And yes, this is the mosque printed on Bangladesh's Tk 20 note — plenty of people hold up the note to match the picture.
History & significance
Everyone repeats the same story: the Sufi ruler Khan Jahan Ali built it in the 15th century, and he was the founder of the region then called 'Khalifatabad'. The mosque carries no inscription, so accounts differ — some say 1355–71, others say it is about 600 years old, and even the UNESCO listing year is told both as 1983 and 1985. The name itself has many theories — one says 'Chhad Gombuj' (roof domes) drifted into 'Shat Gombuj', another says it came from the 60 stone pillars that hold up the roof. Two legends circulate about the stone: floated down from Rajmahal, or brought from Chittagong. And people still debate whether the building served as Khan Jahan Ali's court hall or a madrasa.
How to get there
The mosque sits right on the Khulna–Bagerhat highway and buses drop you at the gate. From Khulna's Sonadanga bus stand or Zero Point, a local bus is Tk 100, about an hour — travellers say boarding at Zero Point saves time. From Dhaka, direct buses (from Sayedabad, Kalyanpur, Mirpur, Gulistan, Jatrabari) cost Tk 600–900 for the roughly 250 km ride — many get off at Katakhali or Noapara Mor and take an auto. From the mazar, a van ride is Tk 5–10, or an easy walk.
Entry fee
৳30 · traveller-reported
Tk 30 for Bangladeshi adults — many travellers report the same figure. The ticket board shows Tk 10 for students, Tk 200 for SAARC-country visitors and Tk 500 for other foreigners. Several say worshippers enter free between Fajr and Isha at prayer times. Fares change — confirm at the gate.
Opening hours & best time
Visitors report the complex opens for tourists 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Worshippers may enter from Fajr to Isha. On Fridays the gate closes briefly around Jumu'ah, then reopens.
Best time
Winter mornings (October–March) are best — cooler and with soft light. Many warn that Fridays and the day after Eid get extremely crowded.
Traveller tips
Step inside and you will feel it — the interior stays cool even at noon; the brick-and-lime carvings easily hold you for half an hour.
The Ghora Dighi behind it — water lilies and a cool breeze — is the best place to rest; the big karui tree at the front works too.
Carry a ৳20 note — matching the mosque with its picture on the note is the classic shot here.
It is a living mosque — five daily prayers, Jumu'ah and Eid all happen here; stay quiet and respectful during worship.