Darasbari Mosque (দারাসবাড়ি মসজিদ)

Darasbari Mosque stands in Shibganj Upazila of Chapai Nawabganj district, about one kilometre southwest of the Kotwali Gate and some 500 metres west of Choto Sona Mosque. It lies within the area of Gaur, the old capital of Bengal.

An Arabic inscription records that the mosque was built in 884 AH, or 1479 to 1480, by Sultan Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah, son of Barbak Shah, of the restored Ilyas Shahi dynasty.

Third largest mosque of old Gaur

It was the third largest mosque in Gaur after the Bara Sona Masjid and the Gunmant mosque.

The building measures about 34 by 20.6 metres outside. It was built of brick with stone pillars, and its roof, including the veranda, used domes and chauchala vaults. Seven pointed arches opened from the veranda into the prayer hall, with more doorways on the north and south.

Roofless walls, royal gallery and eleven mihrabs

Today the roof and veranda have fallen, leaving tall walls, arches and pillar bases open to the sky.

In the northwest corner are the remains of a raised royal gallery. The west wall holds eleven mihrabs in all, two of them at gallery level. Terracotta plaques survive in places under the cornice on the western and southern walls.

The ruin is open to visitors without a fee. It is usually seen with Choto Sona Mosque and the Tahkhana complex nearby.