Zinda Pir's Tomb Complex
| Zinda Pir's Mazar | |
|---|---|
জিন্দাপীরের মাজার | |
Tomb of Zinda Pir (left), Zinda Pir Mosque (center), unknown tombs (right) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque, Tomb |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Ranbijoypur, Bagerhat, Khulna |
| Country | Bangladesh |
Location of the mosque in Bangladesh | |
| Administration | Department of Archaeology |
| Geographic coordinates | 22°39′42″N 89°45′14″E / 22.661798°N 89.754017°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Bengal Sultanate |
| Date established | Late 16th century |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | One |
| Site area | 33.22 m2 (357.6 sq ft) |
The Zinda Pir's Tomb Complex, known as Zinda Pir's Mazar (Bengali: জিন্দাপীরের মাজার) situated half a kilometres west of Khan Jahan's tomb in Bagerhat, is traditionally associated with a saint identified as Ahmad Ali. The name of Zinda Pir translates to “Living Saint”.[1] Enclosed within a square outer wall measuring 33.22 meters per side, the complex includes a single-domed tomb for the saint, a single-domed mosque, and several brick-built graves attributed to the saint's family members. According to local tradition, the saint's residence, now lost, was located to the north of the complex.[2] The mosque architecture dates back to late-sixteenth century.[3][4] The mosque was repaired in 2002 and declared as a protected monument in 2011 by the Department of Archeology.[5][6]
Architecture
The Mosque
The mosque, a single-domed square structure located northwest of the tomb, is constructed in brick. Including its octagonal corner towers, it measures 7.62 m (25.0 ft) per side externally and 4.88 m (16.0 ft) per side internally, with walls approximately 1.52 m (5.0 ft) thick. The building features three arched openings on the eastern side and one each on the northern and southern sides. Corresponding to the larger central eastern opening, a single arched mihrab is set within the qibla wall, accompanied by a typical rectangular projection on the exterior. The central entrance being the largest measures 1.30 m (4.3 ft); the other two are 1 m (3.3 ft) wide. The entrances in the north and south are 1.20 m (3.9 ft) wide.[4]
Tomb of Zinda Pir
The tomb of Zinda Pir, is a square brick structure measuring 10.97 m (36.0 ft) per side externally, now in a heavily ruined state. The building features octagonal corner turrets, with only their bases remaining, and walls 1.52 m (5.0 ft) thick. The north wall, preserved up to 2.44 m (8.0 ft), while the other walls, repaired to 0.61 m (2.0 ft). There are three entrances on each side. Architectural elements like the octagonal towers and surface decoration suggest the tomb dates to the later Ilyas Shahi or Husain Shahi period, despite claims that Zinda Pir predates Khan Jahan.[2]
Gallery
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Zinda Pir Mosque
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Decorations on the wall
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Interior of the mosque
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The mosque and tombs believed to be family of Zinda Pir
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The Mausoleum compound in ruins
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Tomb of Zinda Pir
See also
References
- ^ Hasan 2007, p. 2002, Mosque of Zinda Pir.
- ^ a b Bari, MA (2012). "Zinda Pir's Tomb Complex". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Zinda Pir Mosque". The Islamic Heritage of Bengal. UNESCO. 1984. p. 42. ISBN 978-92-3-102174-9.
- ^ a b Hasan 2007, p. 202.
- ^ "জিন্দাপীর মসজিদ". বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় তথ্য বাতায়ন. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ "Department of Archeology, Bagerhat". Bangladesh National Portal. 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
Bibliography
- Hasan, Perween (2007). Sultans and Mosques: The Early Muslim Architecture of Bangladesh. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-84511-381-0.