Kusumba Mosque: A Medieval Era Mosque in Bangladesh

Like most travel enthusiasts, seeing the Kusumba Mosque featured on the country’s five-taka banknote piqued my interest. That is why I wanted to learn more about this centuries-old historical and religious site in Naogaon. The Varendra district, which depends on agriculture, is located near the northwestern border. This historic mosque was featured on this particular banknote because of its architectural style and aesthetic importance. The mosque is considered one of Bangladesh’s national heritage sites and is commonly referred to as the “Black Gem of Bangladesh.” 

This beautiful mosque is located in the tranquil Kusumba village of Kusumba Union under Manda Upazila, approximately 35 kilometers away from the bustling Naogaon district town. It is situated just 400 meters north of the western side of the well-known Manda Bridge on the picturesque Rajshahi Highway. Every day, hundreds of curious visitors come here to catch a glimpse of the beauty of this mosque.

The Kusumba Mosque is one of the significant monuments of the Sultanate period in Bangladesh. According to the time of laying its foundation stone, this mosque has been standing for 527 years, proudly showcasing its rich heritage. There is a large pond covering nearly 100 bighas on the north-south side near the mosque. Its length and width are approximately 1,200 feet and 900 feet, respectively. It was excavated to provide the villagers and worshippers with drinking water, as well as for bathing and ablution.

Inside the mosque, in the northwest corner, there is a seat positioned on a raised platform that was used to conduct judicial activities during that time. A short distance from the entrance, one can see a box-shaped black stone, which is popularly believed to be a child’s grave. However, the Arabic inscription on the stone confirms its connection to Husain Shah’s memory.

The Kusumba Mosque is rectangular in shape. It is 58 feet long and 42 feet wide. The roof of the mosque, which resembles a traditional rural thatched hut, is slightly curved from north to south. The mosque is surrounded by six-foot-thick walls. In addition, the exterior is covered with stones. The front part of the mosque has three doors: two of them are large, while the other is comparatively small. The doors are shaped like arched mihrabs. The mihrabs of the Kusumba Mosque are decorated with stone-carved designs, and rose motifs are carved along the Qibla wall of the mosque. The mosque’s outer walls also exhibit remarkable craftsmanship. The arch of the main entrance is decorated with beautiful ornamental carvings. At the four corners of the mosque, there are four towers (minarets), one in each corner. These towers are as tall as the walls of the mosque and are octagonal in shape. The roof has six domes, which are arranged in two rows. 

The domes in the second row of the mosque are relatively smaller in size. During the earthquake of 1897, the outer walls surrounding the mosque and many parts of the structure, especially the domes on top, were almost completely destroyed. Despite this severe damage, the original structure of the mosque survived. Later, the mosque was brought to its original shape by the Department of Archaeology. Inside the mosque, there are two pillars. On the northern side, in front of the mihrab, a two-story room was built on a stone pillar. This space was formerly known as the Zenana Gallery, which was designated for women, where they would offer their prayers. This mosque is nicknamed Kala Pahar, meaning Black Hill, or Kala Ratno, meaning Black Gem. This could be a possible reason for the nickname, as some of the mosque’s outside walls were covered with black plaster.

On the western wall inside the mosque, above the three stunning mihrabs, one can find clay tiles decorated with exquisite terracotta artwork in geometric patterns. The mihrabs showcase designs of various flowers, vines, hanging chains, and beautiful artistic decorations, which are a wonderful blend of Muslim architectural art. These carvings are of exceptional quality. Two mihrabs on the southern side are notably large, while the mihrab on the northern side is comparatively smaller. The mosque has two additional doors, one on the north side and the other on the south side. In front of the mosque, there is an open courtyard and a stone-paved staircase that leads down to the pond.

It is believed that a converted Muslim by the name of Sabarkhan or Sulayman built this mosque. The dates on the two inscriptions of the mosque have led to confusion in people’s minds regarding its period of establishment. However, the inscription at the main entrance confirms that this mosque was erected in 1558 AD. This construction took place during the reign of Afghan ruler Sultan Ghiyasuddin Bahadur I, a descendant of Sher Shah. Based on this information, the mosque is currently 467 years old. According to another inscription, the foundation stone of the mosque was laid in 1498 during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah by his minister or administrative officer. By that calculation, the mosque is now 527 years old. According to urban legends, Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah laid the foundation stone, while Sultan Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah completed its construction. It took almost 60 years to complete the mosque.

The origin of the name of Kusumba village is the subject of numerous tales. Kusum Bibi, the wife of Alauddin Husain Shah, the Sultan of Gaur, came to this region and lived here for a few days. The village was subsequently named Kusumba in her honor. Then, a mosque was built in Kusum Bibi’s honor. However, historians believe that there is no historical evidence to support this claim.

How to go there?

By taking any bus from Dhaka to Rajshahi, you can visit the Kusumba Mosque, located near the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway. The fare for AC and non-AC buses from Dhaka to Rajshahi ranges from 680 to 1,400 taka.

Food and accommodation:

There is a district council rest house (Dak Bungalow) in Naogaon. In addition, there are several standard residential hotels. You can enjoy affordable meals at various sweet shops and restaurants in Deluabari Bazar, Naogaon.