Dhania Chalk Mosque

About Dhania Chalk Mosque

Dhania Chalk Mosque, sometimes written Dhunichak, is one of the lesser-known monuments of Gaur on the Bangladeshi side of the border. It is a modest brick building from the Sultanate period, partly ruined and partly restored, set among fields and homesteads.

Compared with the stone-faced Choto Sona Mosque it is plain, but that is part of its interest: it shows the everyday scale of mosque building in the old capital, with thick brick walls, arched openings and traces of decoration.

Few visitors come here, so you are likely to have it to yourself apart from curious children from the village. It fits easily between Darashbari Mosque and Khania Dighi Mosque on a loop that ends at the Mughal-era Shah Niamatullah Mosque.

If you would like to see it, mention it when planning a private Gaur day in Chapai Nawabganj with Evergreen Bangladesh Tours, as it is easy to miss without a local guide.

Getting there

From Rajshahi: the Bangladeshi side of Gaur, around Shibganj and the Sona Masjid border crossing, is roughly 80 km away, about two hours by car.

From Dhaka: fly or take the train to Rajshahi, or drive about seven to eight hours. Trains also run to Chapai Nawabganj town.

Where to stay

Rajshahi city has the widest choice of comfortable hotels and makes a good base for a day in Gaur. Chapai Nawabganj town has simpler options closer to the sites.