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| Chawk Mosque | |
|---|---|
 The mosque, in 2019 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Hazarduari Palace complex,Murshidabad,West Bengal |
| Country | India |
  Location of the mosque inWest Bengal | |
| Coordinates | 24°11′07″N88°16′16″E / 24.185296°N 88.27107°E /24.185296; 88.27107 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Shaikh Khalilallah |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | BengaliMughal |
| Founder | Munny Begum |
| Completed | 1767; 259 years ago (1767) |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Dome | Seven |
| Minaret | Two |
| Website | |
| murshidabad | |
TheChawk Mosque, also known as theChawk Masjid and also as theChowk Shahi Masjid, is amosque located in theHazarduari Palace complex atMurshidabad, in the state ofWest Bengal, India. The Chawk Mosque was founded in 1767CE by Munny Begum, the wife ofNawab Mir Zafar, on the banks of theBhagirathi River. Earlier in this place, NawabMurshid Quli Khan built the "Chahel Sutan", which was the city's forty pillared audience hall. The mosque still recalls the stories of the ruling days of theNawabs and still holds on its glory of the past.
The mosque was founded by Munny Begum, the wife of Nawab Mir Zafar in 1767 CE, and was built under the supervision of Shaikh Khalilallah. Earlier on this venue NawabMurshid Quli Khan built the "Chahel Sutan", which was the city's forty pillared audience hall. The mosque still recalls the stories of the ruling days of theNawabs and still holds on its glory of the past. The mosque is located in theNizamat Fort Area near theHazarduari Palace and its other nearby buildings.
This mosque was of great importance in theNawabi era as Munny Begum was a favourite ofRobert Clive andWarren Hastings in terms of her lavish distribution. She in turn received several gifts; one was a palanquin which could accommodate 30 people from Rani Bhavani. Munny Begum had her allowances separately assigned. Thus, she was aGaddinashin Begum. There have been several otherBegums who have been aGaddinashin Begum, like Babbu Begum another wife of Nawab Mir Zafar, she was on a receipt of₹8000 per month while Munny Begum received₹ 12000. There have been more suchGaddinashin Begums. Munny Begum had done several acts of munificence to theEast India Company and their servants. On her death a salute was fired by the Government corresponding to the number of years of her age as she was always viewed with cordial regard and has a distinguished consideration to the Government of the East India Company.[citation needed]
The mosque has a majestic and grand appearance, completed in the traditionalBengaliMughal architectural style. The 38-metre-long (125 ft) mosque features seven hemispherical domes, with the central dome standing taller than the others.[1] There are five domes mosque on thepediment and twochau-chala-end-vaults at the two corners at the side of the mosque. The exterior and the interior of the mosque are decorated with intricatestucco decorations with floral motifs andarabesques across itsfaçade. Five gates passing through arched gateways lead in front of this grand mosque. There are several shops around so this place is known as the"Chawk" (shopping place or market, square in shape). This market is the principal market of the city of Murshidabad.
, following traditional elements
Earlier this mosque usually used to remain closed throughout the year. But nowadays, daily five-time prayers are led by the Imam of the Masjid and a large number of people attend the daily obligatory prayers. For prominent occasions likeEid al-Adha,Eid ul-Fitr,Eid al-Ghadir the mosque is decorated and whitewashed to welcome the people of the town. Earlier a single gun was fired from theHazarduari Palace and several other guns were fired from several other places - one was fired from here - to proclaim the different intervals of the hours for the meals and prayers during the great fast ofRamzan.
Media related toChawk Masjid (Murshidabad) at Wikimedia Commons
Tourist attractions inMurshidabad | |
|---|---|
| Houses and palaces | |
| Kathgola | |
| Graves, mosques and tombs | |
| Cannons | |
| Temples |
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| Archaeological sites | |
| Others | |
