Bari Masjid and Minar - Pandua

From Pundooah Station, It is 7 minute toto journey, This place is closed since last four years and surrounded by a boundary . No one can enter in the boundary . A fair used to be organised every year here . Now that fair has shifted to another place. The pictures and videos can be taken from outside.

Bari masjid is one of the less popular tourist attraction near pundooah in West Bengal ...but this place has a lot to offer.. This place has a serene environment.. A wonderful masjid.. Notable architecture.. There is a village fair which is held on the month of January to February ( Magh month).. The place is a wonderful long drive spot from kolkata or Durgapur side.

Bari Masjid and Minar is situated beside GT Road at pandua, West Bengal. Is a historical place with lots of important historical relics and artifacts. But is not maintained at all!! Local people's are not concern about it neither govt or archeological survey of India though it is coming under their responsibility. Still it is a place worth visiting to witness the golden era of Bengal and to understand the history associated with it. Follow my Instagram account(@sujit_chaki) for more such photos and updates.

Less popular and poorly maintained place. This has been a historical monument from 1300AD. While coming from Memari towards Kalyani.. this place was en route at Pandua. Shockingly when I asked locals about Bari Masjid they hardly could understand, though the masjid stood out right behind them. While I took pictures of the monument, the locals were staring as if what nonsense I was doing as they treat the place to dry their clothes, children come in the evening to play hide n seek there and cluster of local boys come there to see whatsoever in there phones taking one corner or often the stone throne itself. Felt bad about the maintainance, though the place is one of its kind. The big masjid remains closed I think, when I went I could not see any open way. Photoshoot spot.

Bari Mosque was constructed in the year of 1477. This makes this Mosque, one of the oldest in West Bengal. The Mosque had 22 doors and that's why it was called as "Bais Darwaja Masjid". The unique architecture of this Mosque has immense historical significance. It is situated near to the Minar. The place was completely open around 7 years ago but now there is a boundary given by the Archeological Survey of India. If you want to visit, then you have to see the Mosque from outside. It was said that one Devi Shrine was there, inside the Mosque premise. That part is also visible. You can see my Videos.

Must Visit. Historical Importance. Built in 13th Century AD. Was 40 metres in height but now it's 38 meters.

Awesome Historical place. Many stories have in this place. But now it's closed.

The huge tower is around 125 ft in height. The height was reduced by few feets during an earthquake in the 19th century. The Minar is protected by the archaeological survey of India. The collapsed part of the Minar during earthquake has been renovated by ASI. There is a spiral staircase inside but the keys of the door remains locked. The Minar is five storied made of bricks. But the door is stone carved with Hindu gods and goddess adorning on either side. Panduraja lived in adjacent Mahanad and Syed Shah Saifuddin, the Nephew of Feroze Shah Khilji( Sultan of Delhi) visited the place during 13th Century. Cow slaughter was banned in the area during the rule of Panduraja. But Syed Shah Saifuddin performed the Khatnah ceremony of his son and slaughtered a cow. This made Panduraja angry and he sacrificed Syed Shah Saifuddin’s son to goddess Kali. Syed Shah Saifuddin went back to Delhi and under the command of Jafar Khan Gazi, he attacked Pandua with a huge army from Delhi. After a great battle, Panduraja was defeated and the Minar was constructed by Syed Shah Saifuddin as a mark of victory during the end of the 13th century. Syed Shah Saifuddin was also wounded and died subsequently. His Dargah and mosque were constructed nearby on the GT road. The Pandua Minar also served as an Ajan Minar of the adjacent Bari Masjid for a brief period of time. Some also say that the Pandua Minar was a huge Vishnu temple built by Panduraja which was later demolished and Muslim structures were incorporated over it. The stone door at the bottom with figures of hindu gods and goddess testifies the fact. A huge fair takes place in the adjacent field by the name of Mela Talaa during Magha Masa of the Bengali calendar around February. It is a month-long event attended by millions of devotees. The adjacent Bari Masjid built during the 13th century is a specimen of the typical brick style of Bengal. It is a long low building measuring 70.41 m by 12.80 m having three aisles, with 21 door openings in front and 3 on the sides. Its roof has 63 small domes over brick arches resting on stone pillars of Hindu design. A canopied platform is an attractive feature of the mosque.