Bagha Shahi Mosque (Tiger Mosque)
About Bagha Shahi Mosque (Tiger Mosque)
The Bagha Mosque stands in the village of Bagha, close to the Padma River in the south-east of Rajshahi district. An inscription dates it to 1523–24, in the reign of Sultan Nusrat Shah of the Husain Shahi dynasty of Bengal, which makes it one of the oldest standing mosques in the region. Bagha means tiger in Bengali, which is why it is sometimes called the Tiger Mosque.
The mosque is a rectangular brick building with ten low domes in two rows, thick walls and corner towers. The real treasure is its terracotta: the facade and the mihrabs inside are covered with panels of flowers, vines and geometric patterns, made with remarkable precision.
It sits on a raised bank beside a huge tank (pond) dug at the same time, with a shrine and village life all around. The mosque is still in use, and the setting is peaceful. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours combines Bagha with the Puthia temples and the Padma River on private tours of Rajshahi.
Things to do
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Study the terracotta facade
Look closely at the panels round the doorways, each with a different floral or geometric design.
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Walk round the old tank
The large pond beside the mosque is shaded and calm, a good place to sit after the visit.
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Photography
The ten domes and brick facade glow in the late-afternoon sun.
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Village visit
Bagha is a rural area; with a guide you can see mango orchards and village markets nearby.
Getting there
From Rajshahi: About 40 km south-east of the city by road, roughly an hour to an hour and a half by car.
With Puthia: Many visitors combine Bagha and Puthia in one day from Rajshahi.
Where to stay
Stay in Rajshahi city, which has the widest choice of hotels in the region, and visit Bagha as a day trip.
Tours that visit Bagha Shahi Mosque (Tiger Mosque)
Holiday Tours
Bangladesh Cultural and Heritage Discovery Tour
from $800 per person
Holiday Tours
Ten Days Across Bangladesh
from $800 per person
Questions
When was the Bagha Mosque built?
An inscription dates it to 1523–24, under Sultan Nusrat Shah of Bengal.
Can women and non-Muslims visit?
Yes, outside prayer times. Dress modestly, cover shoulders and legs, and women should bring a scarf for the head.
How far is Bagha from Rajshahi?
About 40 km, roughly an hour or more by car.
Why is it called the Tiger Mosque?
Bagha means tiger in Bengali; the name comes from the village, not the decoration.