Architecture of Bengal

1. Architecture of Bengal
ARCH 241
SHAILA SHARMIN
Assistant Professor,
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE,
CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY.

2. Ancient Period
Mauryan Empire (ca. 320-180 B.C.)
Gupta Empire (A.D. ca. 319-ca. 540)
Pala Dynasty (A.D. 750-1150)
Muslim conquest in 1204
The Senas (1097-1223 AD)
EARLY HISTORY, 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1202
ISLAMIZATION OF BENGAL, 1202-1757
Sultanate 1204-1611
Mughals (1612-1765 in Bengal)
EUROPEAN COLONIZATION, 1757(65)-1857
British East India Company (1765-1857)
Pre-historic
Medieval Period
Colonial Period
The British Raj (1857-1947)
Post Colonial Period
Pakistan (1947- 1971)
Bangladesh (1971- today)
[Shashanka 7th C.]

3. Islamic architecture shares many forms and structural concerns with Byzantine,
Medieval, and Renaissance architecture.
The most common types of Islamic public buildings
1. Mosques
2. Mausoleums
3. Triumphle arch, Minarate
Building Type
Major: Mosque
Secondary: Tomb, Katra, Madrasa, Palaces, Fort etc
Tertiary: Triumphle arch, Minarate, Bridges etc

8. Mosque Type

9. Components of Mosque

10. Mosque Type

11. ISLAMIZATION OF BENGAL (1202-1757)
Sultanate (1204-1611)
•Governance (1204 -1342)
•Ilyas Shahi dynasty (1342-1412) ; 70 years.
•House of Raja Ganesha (1412-1435) ; 23 years.
•Restored Ilyas Shahi dynasty (1435-1487) ; 52 years.
•Habshi Rule (1487-1493) ; 6 years.
•Hussain Shahi dynasty ( 1493- 1538) ; 26 years.
•Governance under Suri Rule (1539 -1553) ;14 years.
•Muhammad Shah dynasty (1554 -1564) ;10 years.
•Afgan/ Karrani dynasty ( 1564 -1576) ; 13 years.
Mughal (1612-1765 in Bengal)

12. SULTANATE of Bengal
(1204-1611 A.D.)

13.  The history of the settlement in Bengal region is probably more than 3000 years
old.
 This region was ruled by the Buddhist and Hindu rulers till 11th century B.C.
 Muslims reached Bengal and their rule started by Ikhtiyar Uddin
Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khalji in around 1204 AD, brought about a
change not only in the political sphere, but also in the social and cultural arena.
 Within a short period of time Muslims became rulers of the whole of Bengal .
 For the next 100 years, Bengal was a province of the Delhi Imperial and the
governors of Bengal were appointed by the Delhi rulers.
 The rivers and marsh land made this region invincible to the foreign invaders. The
local governors took the opportunity and declared them as an independent ruler.
 Most of the time this governors ruled freely without having any direct controls from
their sultans.
Political Background of Bengal in Medieval Period

14.  Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah declared independence (1338) for only the eastern
part of Bengal.
 After few years in 1342 Ilyas Shah succeeded in unifying the whole of Bengal and
founded an independent kingdom. His successors preserved the unity and the
independence of Bengal for more than 185 years.
 Ilias Shah was the first ruler of the Ilias Shahi family and he was the first
independent ruler without the control from Delhi Sultanate.
 More than 200 years of Sultanate period (1342-1576 A.D.) was comparatively
stable and free from outsider’s invasion.
 Due to this stability, some of the rulers successfully contributed their effort and
resources to the mosque construction and development of the unique architectural
style of Bengal.
Sultanate period
Beginning of

17. •Governance (1204 -1342)
Bokhtiyar Khilji

18. • The independent sultanate was the most important period in the history of Muslim
architecture in Bengal.
• A period of great activity.
• All made possible by the direct patronage of the Sultans of Bengal through their
understanding of local culture.
• Isolation of Bengal from the rest of India led the Muslims in Bengal to be more closer
to the indigenous culture and literature.
Sultanate period
Attributions of

19. • The sultanate period was a glorious time for the development of
“Bengal Style” in mosque architecture.
• The Bengal style was unique among the other styles practiced in Indian
subcontinent and outside of India in other Muslim countries during 12th-15th
century in terms of
structural innovation
addressing contextual issues
use of unique building materials
climatic considerations
• Those mosques and design philosophy lasted for hundreds of years in our continent
and considered as the inspirational works for the rulers and builders of later phases,
like: Mughal and colonial regime.
Sultanate period
Attributions of

20.  Apart from the rulers, there were some saint warriors who contributed in
the spread of Islam and construction of some mosques.
 Most of them came from Persian-Turkish region and Syria. They brought the
construction technique and design approach with them which actually founded the
design ideology of “Bengal Style” in later phases.
 Among them Khan-e-Jahan was most famous for his contribution in the
development and practice of Bengal style in his works.
 He had good relationship with both the ruler and the general mass.
 Most notable Khan-E-Jahan work is Sixty Dome Mosque at Bagerhat, Khulna.

21. Mosques dominate the religious categories of buildings. They are of two kinds
 Jami Mosques
Larger dimensions
Addition of the royal gallery
Generally rectangular in plan
Multi-domed
Wide vaulted-nave runs through the middle.
• ADINA MOSQUE at Pandua,
• CHHOTA SONA MOSQUE (1493-1519) and
• BARA SONA MOSQUE (1526) at Gaur and
• KUSHUMBA MOSQUE (1558) in Rajshahi etc.
 The Waqtiya mosques _also called Panjegan Mosques.
Small in design
Local mosques
Centres of social meetings primary religious schools.
Single domed type
• KHANIA DIGHI and LATTAN MOSQUEs (late 15th c) at Gaur-Lakhnauti;
• BIBI BEGNI MOSQUEs (mid 15th c) at Bagerhat;
• GOALDI MOSQUE (late 15th/early16thc) at Sonargaon,
• SURA MOSQUE (late 15th/early 16th c) in Dinajpur.
Bengali style

22. • Before the conquest of this eastern region of India by the Muslims in 1204 the
entire territory (Bengal) is said to have been divided into
5 districts_ Radha,Bagdi,Banga,Barendra,Mithila
• During most of the Muslim rule in Bengal till the beginning of the Mughal rule ,
Gaur was the capital of the Muslim Kingdom.
• About 1330 in the time of Delhi Emperor Tughlag , Bengal was divided into
3 sub-provinces _
Lakhnawti (Gaur) became the capital of the northern division,
Sonargaon of the western
Satgaon of the south western .
Geographical background

23.  Mosque architecture in Bengal region having the spatial concept and façade
articulation of Persian and Byzantine architecture.
 Before the introduction of Islam, the Bengal region was ruled be the Buddhist
and Hindu kings. They built lots of temples and other structures. Muslim rulers
found long practiced building construction technique by the local masons and
they were also introduced by the use of brick and terracotta work.
Chhota sona mosque (1493-1519) and Bara sona mosque (1526)
Important features of the Sultanate period

24.  Unfortunately in a mosque, the interior space had to be free of obstruction and
it requires a large pavilion like space for prayer in multiple rows. That is why the
Muslim builders faced a great challenge while working with the local masons.
 First they had to choose brick instead of stone as the main building material.
But main structural elements like base and column were entirely made of
stones though it was rare in the Bengal region
Chhota sona mosque (1493-1519) and Bara sona mosque (1526)
Important features of the Sultanate period

25. Atiya Masjid in Tangail
Kushumba Masjid in Tangail
Important features of the Sultanate period
 The size of the dome was depended on the width of the arches. This
system is called the pendentive system and it was imported from Persian
and Byzantine construction technique.
 The introduction of arch and dome was evolved from structural solution
rather than Islamic symbolism and early mosques in Bengal region had
direct influence of the mosque architecture practiced in Delhi that time.

26. Sura Mosque in Dinajpur
Bagha Masjid in Rajshahi
Important features of the Sultanate period
Structures of this period contains_
 Existence of interior column
 Multi-dome roof
 Arches for structural load distribution
 Use of ‘squinch’ to distribute the load of domes.
 Stone slab or beam had a problem while taking load in large span.
Therefore, the entrance and hallways were made of brick arches and the
arches were topped by dome on them.

27. Sura Mosque in Dinajpur
Bagha Masjid in Rajshahi
Important features of the Sultanate period
Structures of this period contains_
• Regional form & the structural system,
• Richness of surface decoration
• Use of traditional brick and terracotta,
• Occasional stone carving and glazed tiles work,
• Use of curvilinear cornice and
• The Bangla roof.
• The corners are strengthened by the erection of towers

29. The mosque architecture of Bengal is based fundamentally upon the
building tradition of western and central Asia
• Newly introduced architectural features & construction system
Domes, arches, minarets, mihrabs, and the extrovert nature of the mosques
• Clearly distinguish mosque architecture from temple architecture
But Islamic architecture of Bengal was also influenced by prevailing Hindu/ Buddhist styles.
D i s t i n c t i v e P r o v i n c i a l S t y l e s

30. The Outcome from Sultani and Mughal periods: Styles
• The Mamluk (slave-Turk) Style (1227-1285 AD)
• The Early Illyas Shahi Style (1342-1414 AD)
• The Eklakhi Style (1414-1442 AD)
(1442-1575 AD)
• The Later Illyas Shahi Style
• The Khan Jahan Style
• The Hussain Shahi style

31. • bricks but stone
cladding
• interior column,
multi-dome roof,
arches , ‘squinch’ to
distribute the load of
domes.
• very little interior
space inside.
• Thick walls like
temples
• enormous size
represents the
political power
• influence of Arab/
Persian in spatial
organization
• central
courtyard
surrounded by a
pillared hall
• brick, but lower
part were covered
by stones
• domes supported
by pendentives and
stone columns
• central nave
covered by huge
vaults
• entirely built on
bricks
• curved cornice
(from hut) &
corner minarets
with circular
bands (from
bamboo)
• Terracotta &
multiple lines of
moldings
• single dome
prototype
structure
considering
construction with
minimalist design
attitude.
• Style’ which
lasted for the next
200 years
• mixed structural:
Brick & stone
• stone at the base and
beneath the arches
• wall was thinner
• ChowchalaVault
• use of terra-cotta
• additional approach
verandah(chamkatti)
• prototype composed
of pendentive and
dome. (shaitgumbaz)
• Minarets circular ;
previous had
octagonal plan
(shaitgumbaz) • Bengal Style in Mosque
construction by following
the design elements and
fenestration of Khan-e-
Jahan style.
D i s t i n c t i v e P r o v i n c i a l S t y l e s

32. Influences & Contributions of Islamic Architecture of Bengal:
• Mainly the region ruled by SULTANAT & MUGHAL
• Introduce new building type (MOSQUE etc) in this region
• Foreign influence blend with local tradition & style and emerge
NEW STYLES
• The developed architecture has CONTEXTUAL SENSITIVITY & better
SURVIVAL QUALITY

33. Examples of the Sultanate period
1. Adina Masjid
2. Choto Sona Masjid
3. Bara Sona Masjid
4. Shat Gambuj Masjid
5. Khirki Masjid
6. Dakhil Darwaja

34. Adina Mosque
At Hazrat Pandua ,India

36. Adina Masjid | Triple-aisled south cloister
viewed from southeastern corner of mosque

38. Adina Mosque
 Built by Sikander Shah, the second sultan of the newly independent kingdom in
1370.
 Located twenty kilometers North of the town of Malda and along a major road
leading to north Bengal, the sultan probably built it as a visual proclamation of his
victory over the Delhi ruler, Firuz Shah Tughluq.
 The mosque is mostly in ruins today following the damages sustained during the
earthquakes in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
 Not the true example of ‘Bengal Style’ due its direct influence of western world.
 This module of spatial arrangement was commonly seen in the Arabian and Persian
region.
 Even it had great similarity in plan with Qwat-ul-Islam mosque at Delhi, which was
founded by Qutub Uddin Aibek almost hundred years earlier.Both of the mosques
had a central courtyard surrounded by a pillared hall.

39. Adina Mosque
 This mosque clearly represented the power and dedication of the builder through its
scale, structural innovation and the majestic appearance.
 Both the innovations and the failures in Adina mosque were the inspiration for the
mosque builders of later phases.
 This huge Mosque is considered as a prominent example of Early Ilias Shahi style
 This great mosque is the only example of courtyard type mosque and was never
repeated anywhere else in Bengal during the early Islamic period.
 It is an excellent example of sultanate period architecture and was at the time one of
the largest mosque to be built on the subcontinent, a reflection of the power and
wealth of the sultan.

40. • It is a rectangular with an open central courtyard.
• Externally it measures 524' x 322' (154.3 x 87m) with the longer side running north-
south.
• The courtyard measures 426'-6"x147'-7"(130 x 45m).
• In the courtyard there was a well for ablution framed with brick masonry _it is the only
example of Bengal of such courtyard in addition of a large water tank nearby.
• In plan the Adina mosque resembles a traditional early Islamic Congregational or Friday
mosque.

41. • The prayer hall is located to the west.
• It is divided into 2 symmetrical wings by a central nave (78'x 34' and 64' high) originally covered by a
pointed barrel vault.
• The prayer hall is five aisles deep while the north, south and east cloisters around the courtyard
consist of triple aisles.
• In total, these aisles had 260 pillars and 387 domed bays.
• Each bay has one pointed arch opening was probably screened by perforated bricks.
• Cloister in north , east and south sides measure internally 15.50m deep.
• These are mostly ruins and only the bases of the pillars and a portion of outside walls are standing
today.

42. • The central mihrab is located at the end of the central nave with a smaller additional
mihrab. A series of secondary mihrabs runs along the whole western wall.
• In total, the 39 mihrabs
• The pillared hallway was covered by the domes supported by the pendentives and
columns.
• Though the main building material was brick, but lower part of the walls were covered by
stones.

43. • The left and right wing of qibla riwaq measures internally 70.2m by 19.40 m each.
• Corresponding to each aisle there is a mihrab niche in the qibla wall.
• The qibla wall are made of bricks completely faced with stones on the outer surface, but
only up to the mihrab niche in the inner surface.
• Only 36 free standing pillars are in the right wing are standing and the remaining are
broken.
• Each of the wings are covered by 90 small hemispherical domes, but at present only 45
in the right wing exists while the others have fallen down.

45. • Mihrab niche has a multifoil cusped arch.
• On the right-hand side of central mihrab niche is a raised minbar or podium from which
the imam preached to the people.
• It is built out of black basalt and is reached by a flight of nine steps and covered by a
small dome.
• The two longer side of the central nave has massive brick piers to support the roof
which was covered by a tunnel vault.
• The vault has fallen down long ago but the outline of the vaulted roof is distinctly
marked against the top of the back or qibla wall

46. Mirhab (prayer niche) at
Adina Mosque, Pandua

47. • Absence of any grand monumental entrance gateway..
• 3 separate entrances for the Imam, the royal members and for the normal worshipers.
• The main entrance of the mosque consists of three arches that open on the southeastern
corner.
• Today it can only be entered from the east through a modest arched opening.
• Another three small entrances are in the northwestern wall, two of which lead to the
Badshah-ka-takht, a private worship area for the kings and the ladies.

48. • The Badshah-ka-takht is a square structure with an L-shaped ramp on its north
• On its east are two doors that lead to the raised takht (throne) inside.
• One of the doors was originally carved for a Hindu temple.
• The square structure was divided into nine bays with nine domes supported in stone
columns.
• This chamber is now believed to house the tomb of Sikander Shah. Since this chamber
was the sole entrance to the takht, it is highly unlikely that it was meant as a burial
chamber.
• The L-shaped ramp also negates the notion of this as a burial chamber since it
resembles a royal entrance to a fortress.

49. • A raised gallery for the king and his followers is placed at the upper level in the northern
wing of the qibla- riwaq(arcade), occupying an area of five aisles and three bays.
• This gallery has three mihrab niches in the qibla wall and is entered from the qibla side by
two opening through an adjacent structure .
• 18 massive octagonal stone pillars support the heavy weight of the stone floor of the
gallery.
• Above the gallery floor level these pillars are transformed into round fluted columns.
• Along with three adjacent aisles in the south and oneaisles in the neast of these gallery ,
this is the only portion of the mosque that still retains its original domed roof

50. • Most of the upper part of the building - the arches and the domes - is of brick.
• At the corners of its exterior walls are circular stone-faced, turrets.
• The lower eleven feet of the columns are faced with stone while the upper portions are
articulated with beautifully molded brick.
• The exterior of the west wall is the best-preserved section of the mosque and is faced with
smooth blue-grey basalt up to a height of 11'.
• Much of the finely worked basalt was taken from the earlier Hindu building at Lakhnauti or
other areas nearby.

51.  The prayer hall is a series
of powerful pillars with
square plinths.
 The columns supporting
the hall of the Badshah-
ka-takht are of more
normal proportions, with
graceful tapered shafts
and capitals in the shape
of open lotus flowers,
which are derived from
Hindu structures.

52. Interior of Adina Mosque, Pandua

53. Adina Mosque_
• The mosque is decorated with
magnificent complex carvings,
calligraphic inscriptions and non-
calligraphic surface ornamentation.
• The complex designs included
geometrical patterns, vegetation
motifs, rosettes and abstract
arabesque designs.
black basalt carved 'mihrabs' or prayer niches.

54. Adina Mosque-Carvings on the Stone
structure
Flower motif

55. Choto Shona Mosque

56. Choto Shona Mosque
• One of the most graceful monument of the Sultanate period .
• The mosque was built during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah, between 1493 and 1519.
• Choto sona mosque is the best representation of stone cutter’s art of the husain shahi
period.
• Described as a gem of Sultanate architecture.
• The mosque premise covers an area of 42 m from east to west by 43.5 m from north to
south, was originally surrounded by an outer wall (now restored) with a gateway in the
middle of the east side.

57. N
• The mosque premise covers an
area of 42 m from east to west
by 43.5 m from north to south,
was originally surrounded by
an outer wall (now restored)
with a gateway in the middle of
the east side.

59. Plan:
• This oblong building measures 82’ by 52’.
• This grand monument is 20 ft. high.
• The interior measures 71’9” by 40’6”.
N

60. Plan:
• It is divided into 3 longitudinal aisles by two rows of stone pillars, four in
each row.
• A wide central nave has cut the aisles into halves, each half showing six equal
square units with a side of 3.5 m.
• The idea of a central nave with side aisles is an influence of Adina Mosque.
• The nave has three rectangular units, each measuring 3.5 by 4.5 m.
• The interior of the mosque has therefore a total of 15 units
• 5 bays.
N

61. Plan:
• One interspace is reserved for the ladies gallery at the north western corner.
• The women’s gallery stood on the second storey, supported below on stone
pillars.
• Entrance to this gallery was by a flight of steps from north.
N

62. Doorways:
• 5 arched doorways on the eastern
side.
• It is richly decorated , all the
designs being curved on stone .
• North and south sides have 3
doorways each.
N

64. Domes:
• Side wings are covered by hemispherical domes, 12 in all.
• The central nave is covered by 3 bengali chauchala domes.
• Interior of chauchala domes shows a decoration copied from bamboo
frame-work, emphasizing the local characters.
• They are all carried on stone pillars
N

65. Mihrabs:
• Corresponding to the 5 archways in the east wall there are 5 semi-circular
mihrabs inside the west wall.
• The stones of most of these miharbs have disappeared.
• An extra small mihrab in the second storey for ladies.
• The central mihrab is projected.
N

66. Towers :
• The four exterior angles of the building are strengthened with polygonal towers
Pillars:
• The pillars were made of stone
Cornices:
• Curvilinear and have stone gutters to drain off the rain water from the roof.

67. Material
• Built of brick and stone
• All the four walls are covered externally and to some extent also internally with
granite stone blocks.
• These stones have disappeared from the southern side of the west wall because
of conservation works after the destruction by the earthquake of 1897.

68. Decoration:
• Stone carving, brick-setting, terracotta and glazed tiles were used in
decorating the building, and of them the former played the dominant
role.

69. • The subject matters of the stone carving were chosen according to the
demand of the spaces, like the borders of the panels with creepers and
their interior with various forms of stylized patterns.
• The interior of the domes and vaults are decorated with terracottas,
those of the vaults being copies of the bamboo frames of local huts.

70. • All the frontal archways and those of
the mihrabs are cusped.
• The spandrels of arches and the spaces
above the frames are always dotted
with rosettes, an attractive form of
designs, but are all carved differently.

74. Bara Shona Mosque
or Great Golden Mosque at Gaur, India.

75.  Bara Sona Mosque is the largest mosque in Gaur-Lakhnauti, the capital of Sultanate Bengal,
and it marks the culmination of Sultanate architecture in Bengal.
 Was started by Alauddin Husain Shah and was completed in 1526 AD by his son Nasiruddin
Nusrat Shah.Situated 12 km south from Malda in West Bengal,very close to the India-
Bangladesh border.
 Baro Shona Masjid (The Great Golden Mosque) also known as Baroduari (12-gate
mosque).Though the name means 12 doors, this monument actually has 11.
 Abid Ali explains it in a different way by saying that 'the name 'Baraduari', ordinarily meaning
'an audience hall', was given to the mosque on account of the spacious courtyard in front of
the mosque'.
 The Indo-Arabic style of architecture and the ornamental stone carvings make Baroduari a
special attraction for tourists.
Bara Sona Mosque

76.  The mosque is composed of 11 entrances, 2 buttresses,4 corner towers and a
spacious courtyard which is almost 70m in diameter.
 The mosque is built of brick, faced in plain stone with no carvings.
 The mosque has 2 gateways, still surviving, to its east and north, making space for
an open courtyard in front.

77. General view of entrance courtyard from the south, showing mosque and the
two extant entrance gates

78. Detail of the east gateway

79. Detail of stonework on east gateway

80. N
 The mosque is a rectangular building and measures 50.4 m. by 22.8 m.,
and 12 m. in height
N

81. N

82. Eastern (interior) wall of the ruined musalla, with marks of fallen domes

83. Elevated view of the ruined musalla,
showing remains of stone pillars that
once supported domes

84. View of the ruined musalla, looking to northwest

85. The prayer hall is divided into 3 longitudinal bays and 11 aisles.
 It is entered from the east through a 3.55 m wide fore room, which has 11 pointed
arch entrances in the east and one opening in north and south side.
 The southern wall of prayer hall has 3 identical opening .
 The northern wall has one opening and two niche at the lower level and two
openings at the upper level.
 Corresponding to each aisle was a mihrab niche in the qibla wall,which are placed
directly opposite the entrance opening in the eastern wall.
 Hence the qibla wall had 11 mihrab niches once , but at present stands only a portion
of the qibla wall with only 3 mihrab niches and the rest has fallen down.
 A trace of foundation of a minbar is observed in the right side of the central aisle.
N

86.  On the northwest corner of the mosque, there was once a royal gallery.
 A raised terrace outside the mosque on the north-west corner can still be seen, which
was the entrance platform for the gallery.
 There are two openings in the northern side of the gallery in this raised entrance level ,
among them the eastern one is an entrance door and the other one is a window.
 The gallery was supported by 6 large pillars and 4 pilasters and was roofed over by 6
domes, covered 3 aisles and 2 bays.
 A remarkable feature of this gallery is the change of the roof level, which can be easily
observed in the western part of the northern wall.
N

87.  The roof was strewn with 44 hemispherical domes,
of which 11 covering a verandah to the front of the
building remain.
 These domes were originally gilded.
 From the interior, these domes are arcaded, half in brick and half in stone.
 The mosque was known as Sona Masjid due to its earlier gilded wall surface and
crowns of the turrets.
Detail of dome

88. Presently the outer surface has no ornamentations ,but it can be presumed that all
ornamentations were removed after the earthquake in 1897 or former times
without any official documentation.

89. The Shait Gambuj Mosque, at Bagerhat

100. General characteristics of the Sultanate
architecture in Bengal
• They were all built in bricks, The walls being very
wide, ranging from 1.5m to 4m.
• Occasionally covered with stone facings or stone
lintels running horizontally through the middle.
• The corners are strengthened by the erection of
towers, mostly octagonal, but occasionally also
round, rising only up to the level of the roof.
• From tower to tower the roof was bow-carved, a
feature derived from the prevailing form of
thatched huts.
• Above the roof rose inverted tumbler-shaped
domes of the local type.
chhota sona mosque (1493-1519) and
bara sona mosque (1526)

101. General characteristics of the Sultanate
architecture in Bengal
• The mihrabs in mosques, corresponding to the
number of east doorways, had mostly engrailed
arches in front.The entire element was so
profusely ornamented and kept it within a
rectangular frame that it became at once the
focal point of the entire interior.
• The above characteristics of the buildings gave
the Sultanate architecture in Bengal a distinct
look, different from other medieval architecture
in India or elsewhere, and have created a style
which may appropriately be described as the
independent Bengal style.
chhota sona mosque (1493-1519) and
bara sona mosque (1526)

102. bara sona mosque (1526)
• Inside, in large buildings slender
but hard granite columns of
indigenous origin were arranged
in rows to carry two-centered
pointed arches, giving the
interior a sense of lightness and
airy space.

103. • The buildings were
decorated both inside
and outside with string
mouldings and
terracotta designs of
local origin, the most
important subject
matter being creepers
forming frames.
• These contained
hanging motifs of
different designs,
originally derived from
the chain and bell motif
of temple decoration