SONA MOSJID

Shona Mosque or Chhoto Shona Masjid is located in Chapai Nawabganj district of Bangladesh. The mosque was built during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah, between the years of 1493 and 1519. The magnificent fifteen domes of the mosque were once gilded in gold, giving the mosque the name of Small Golden Mosque or as it is generally known, the Chhoto Shona Masjid.

It is a simple rectangular structure. It's exterior measuring are 82′ x 57′ x 20′ and interior are 70′- 4″ x 40′- 9″. In has four corner towers, two additional projecting buttressed towers that frame the back of the central mihrab. This brick structure is embellished with Rajmahal black stone facing on the exterior and this transition between materials is visible at the point where the domes begin. All arches and domes are of brick and the transition from the square to the circle of the drum-less domes are achieved with brick stalactite pendentives. It's significant feature is the high quality of stone carving done in shallow relief on the inside and outside walls. These are stone reproduction of highly developed traditional terracotta art of Bangladesh closely resembling woodcarving or filigree work. This is evident from an architectural fragment taken and now kept in the British Museum which shows the image of Buddha on one side and shallow diaper design of Muslim workmanship on the other showing traces of gilding. This mosque was once richly decorated with gilding and gold paint in the tile decoration.

The triple cornice is gently curved and gutters provided for draining water from the roof. The east facade has five multi-cusped pointed arches which form the main entrance to the mosque. Each of the south and north facades has a three-arched doorway that leads directly into the aisles. A central nave divides the north and south prayer hall. The nave is wider than the side halls, measuring 14′-5″ as compared to the 11′-4″ width of the side halls. The nave is emphasized by three chau chala domes (four segmented hut-shaped domes), in contrast to the six hemispherical domes covering the prayer halls. Two rows of chamfered pillars carrying arches divide the south and north prayer halls into three longitudinal aisles. The six domes are arranged such that two are placed in each of the three aisles on either side of the central nave. The domes are arranged in diminishing heights and this is achieved by varying the thickness of the domes.

There is a ladies gallery on the north elevated on slender carved columns. It is a square, two-storied structure and the entrance is from the northwest corner of the mosque through a porch that is elevated to the same height. The entrance porch was covered with a canopy. There is a subterranean passage leading to the northern iwan just below the zenana gallery.