Nayabad Mosque
An eighteenth-century three-domed mosque in terracotta.
Kaharole, Dinajpur district, Rangpur Division
A three-domed mosque built in 1793, in the reign of Emperor Shah Alam II. It is said to have been put up by the Muslim craftsmen who came from the west to build the Kantajew Temple and settled in Nayabad village. It is a small, quiet building in a village setting, and the reason to come is to see the same terracotta hand at work on a mosque.
What to see
The east front
Three arched doorways under three domes, with a tower at each corner. Stand back in the yard to take in the whole front.
The terracotta plaques
Plaques of flowers and vines still decorate the walls, though many have been lost. Look for them around the doorways.
How to go round
Twenty to thirty minutes is enough: see the front from the yard, look closely at the plaques, then go inside between prayer times.
Make the most of it
- See it straight after the Kantajew Temple, while the temple's plaques are fresh in your mind.
Getting there
In Kaharole upazila, about 1.5 km from the Kantajew Temple; see the two together.
How to get to Dinajpur from Dhaka
- By bus
- From Gabtoli or Kallyanpur
- By train
- Ekota, Drutojan or Panchagarh Express from Kamalapur
- By air
- Fly to Saidpur and go on by road
Where to stay
Parjatan Motel, Dinajpur