Choto Sona Mosque
ছোট সোনা মসজিদ
The most elaborate Sultanate-era building on the Bangladesh side of Gaur, with fifteen domes and carved stone throughout. It is known as the 'Jewel of Gaur.'
Chhota Sona Mosque stands in Shibganj, Chapai Nawabganj District, close to the Indian border. It is the core of Gaur, the medieval capital of Bengal, on the Bangladesh side. The mosque was built during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah (1493–1519). Its exterior walls are entirely faced with stone, carved with vines, flowers and geometric patterns. The roof originally had 15 domes. It is called the 'Golden Mosque' because the domes were once gilded. Nearby sites include the ruins of the Darasbari Mosque, the tomb of Shah Niamatullah, the underground palace Tahkhana and the Kaniadighi Mosque. The area is well suited to a day tour by hired car. Shibganj is about 85 km from Rajshahi, a 2–2.5 hour drive, and you can hire a CNG or car in town. There is a checkpoint near the border, so carry your passport.
Opening hours
All day; visits suspended during services
Nearby sights
- Darasbari Mosque
- Kusumba Mosque
- Shaheed A.H.M. Qamaruzzaman Central Park & Zoo
- Rajshahi Silk (Sopura Silk Mills)
- Varendra Research Museum
- Shah Makhdum Ruposh Dargah
- Padma River Promenade
- University of Rajshahi Campus