Ambar Shah Mosque: A Mughal Era Mosque in Karwan Bazar

The Ambar Shah Mosque, nearly 350 years old, is located in the Karwan Bazar area of the capital city, Dhaka. This historical structure is gradually disappearing from the sight of city dwellers. However, the name of this historical establishment is intertwined with the history of Karwan Bazar. This mosque is considered the heritage of Karwan Bazar and has been identified by historians as the oldest structure in this area. During the Mughal era, travelers used to visit the local caravanserai for rest, and many of them would offer prayers at this mosque. The mosque is also known as Khwaja Ambar’s Mosque and Amber Shah (RA) Shahi Jame Masjid. 

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The architectural design of this mosque is quite attractive. Its main feature is the mihrab, which is made of black stone. Though the original mosque is small in size, its beauty draws the attention of worshippers. The main building of the Ambar Shah Mosque is adorned with three domes, which add to the beauty of the structure’s exterior. These have enhanced the exterior beauty of the establishment. Due to various renovations over time, many aspects of the mosque have changed. Along with expanding its range, the original structure of the mosque is now not directly visible due to the surrounding buildings. It ranks 22^nd on the list of the oldest mosques in Dhaka. Analysts say that this establishment is of great importance in exploring the roots of Bengali’s thousand-year history and heritage.

This single-story mosque building with three domes is very beautiful to look at. The old mosque building is located on approximately five kathas of land. Due to the increase in the number of worshippers, a new mosque building has been constructed beside the old one. Prayers are offered in both places.

This mosque is a Mughal architectural structure. According to historical records, the year of construction of this mosque is 1680 AD. The builder was Khwaja Ambar, who was the chief Khwaja of Subahdar Shaista Khan, the governor of the Bengal province. The mosque has two stone inscriptions. Quranic verses are written on the first stone inscription, which is placed above the central mihrab. The year of construction is written on the second inscription, which is placed on the exterior above the central entrance. Black stones brought from Rajmahal in India were used in this mosque.

The architectural style of the mosque is very attractive and artistic. This three-domed mosque is situated across the western half of a raised platform about 12 feet above the ground. At the top of this base platform is a row of closed lotus-petal designs. There are four huge side towers at the four corners of the mosque.

The octagonal-shaped towers are slightly higher than the base platform, and at the top of each tower, there are small domes. At the eastern end, by crossing a staircase, you can reach a portico with a stone-framed arched gateway. There was a well dug by Khwaja Ambar on the right side of the staircase path, but it has now been filled with soil. To the east of the base platform is Khwaja Ambar’s graveyard. Initially, only a stone-made tombstone was visible here, but now a structure has been built on top of it using bricks.