description Adina Mosque Overview
Constructed in 1373 in Pandua, West Bengal, the Adina Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar Shah of the Bengal Sultanate. It was historically one of the largest mosques in the Indian subcontinent, built primarily as a hypostyle structure. The architecture is distinguished by its synthesis of Islamic and indigenous Bengali design elements, notably incorporating the reverse-curve cornices typical of local temple traditions. Today, the monument survives in ruins.
help Adina Mosque FAQ
Who built the Adina Mosque at Pandua?
The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar Shah of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty in the 14th century. An inscription associates the project directly with Sikandar Shah, the son of Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah.
Why was Adina Mosque built on such a large scale?
It functioned as an imperial congregational mosque for the Bengal Sultanate and expressed Sikandar Shah's royal authority. Its vast hypostyle plan made it one of the largest medieval mosques in the Indian subcontinent.
What architectural traditions influenced Adina Mosque?
Its broad hypostyle layout evokes major Islamic monuments such as the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Bengali construction techniques and reused stone from earlier local buildings give the ruins a distinctly regional character.
Where are the ruins of Adina Mosque located?
They stand at Pandua in West Bengal's Malda district, rather than in present-day Bangladesh. Pandua served as a capital of the Bengal Sultanate before political power shifted elsewhere.
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