Lattan Mosque

Lottan Masjid
Lottan Masjid
লোটন মসজিদ
	Location of the former mosque in West Bengal
Religion
Affiliation	Islam (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque (former)
Status	Inactive (as a mosque)
Location
Location	Gour Road, Gour, Malda, West Bengal
Country	India
Administration	Archaeological Survey of India
Coordinates	24°52′58″N 88°07′41″E / 24.8829°N 88.1280°E
Architecture
Type	Mosque architecture
Style	Bengal Sultanate
Established	c. 1493-1519
Specifications
Length	21.95 m (72.0 ft)
Width	15.54 m (51.0 ft)
Dome	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^[1] is a historical mosque located between the Tantipara Mosque and the Bridge of Five Arches in Gaur, Malda District, West Bengal.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[2]^[3] 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.^[4] Although the exact date of the mosque's construction is not known, historians assume the mosque was built somewhere between 1493 and 1519.^[5]

According to local tradition, Yusuf Shah married a Hindu dancer called Mira (or Mirabai) who had embraced Islam and taken the name Lotan Bibi.^[6] 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.^[7]

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.^[2] 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.^[3]