Lattan Mosque

Lottan Masjid
লোটন মসজিদ
Religion
Affiliation	Islam (former)
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Mosque (former)
Status	Inactive (as a mosque)
Location
Location	Gour Road, Gour, Malda, West Bengal
Country	India
Location of the former mosque in West Bengal
Administration	Archaeological Survey of India
Geographic coordinates	24°52′58″N 88°07′41″E
Architecture
Type	Mosque architecture
Style	Bengal Sultanate
Date established	c. 1493-1519
Specifications
Length	21.95 m (72.0 ft)
Width	15.54 m (51.0 ft)
Dome(s)	1
Materials	Brick
Monument of National Importance
Official name	Lottan Masjid
Reference no.	N-WB-92

The Lattan Mosque (Bengali: লোটন মসজিদ) or Painted Mosque, officially known as Lottan Masjid is a historical mosque located between the Tantipara Mosque and the Bridge of Five Arches in Gaur, Malda District, West Bengal. Built during the period of Hussain Shahi sultans between (c. 1493-1519), the mosque stands out as one of the best preserved monuments in ancient city of Gaur.

History

The mosque is stylistically dated to the late 15th or early 16th century and is thought to have been constructed during the Husain Shahi period. An inscription found in the vicinity indicates it may have been built by Sultan Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah (r. 1474–1481) in 1475. Alexander Cunningham describes the inscription of the Chamkatti Mosque instead. Although the exact exact date of the mosque's construction is not known, historians assume the mosque was built somewhere between 1493 and 1519.

According to local tradition, Yusuf Shah married a Hindu dancer called Mira (or Mirabai) who had embraced Islam and taken the name Lotan Bibi. In her name, Yusuf Shah established the Lotan Taluq (administrative subdivision) which contains the Lattan Mosque and Lotan Dighi, and that taluq existed even until the British period.

Architecture

The structure is entirely constructed from brick. It comprises a square prayer chamber measuring 10.36 m (34.0 ft) on each side, adjoined by a verandah measuring 10.36 by 3.35 m (34.0 by 11.0 ft). Together, they form a rectangular platform extending 21.95 m (72.0 ft) from east to west and 15.54 m (51.0 ft) from north to south. Access to the prayer chamber is provided through three arched openings on each side, except the qibla side. The qibla wall features three semi-circular mihrab niches, recessed internally and aligned to correspond with the three eastern entrances. The interior is adorned with numerous multicolored glazed tiles. The intricately designed brick exterior was originally clad with glazed tiles, though much of this decoration has been lost.

Gallery

• 
  Full view of the monument
• 
  Front view
• 
  Side view
• 
  Back view
• 
  Entrance path to the mosque
• 
  Corner pillars of Lattan Mosque
• 
  Intricate carvings on the wall
• 
  Decorated wall surface
• 
  Wall architecture
• 
  Floral designs on the corner pillar
• 
  Works on pillar

See also

• List of Monuments of National Importance in West Bengal
• Pandua, Malda

Bibliography

• Michell, George (1984). The Islamic Heritage of Bengal. Unesco. ISBN 978-92-3-102174-9.