Jhaudia Shahi Masjid Kushtia

Jhaudia Shahi Masjid is a historical archeological monument located in Jhaudia village, 22 km from Kushtia Sadar Upazila. Although the exact construction period of the brick, stone, sand and porcelain mosque is not known, there are many legends about the mosque. According to legend, the Jhowdia Shahi Mosque was miraculously built. According to many, during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, Shah Sufi Adari of Iraq established a monastery in the region for the purpose of spreading Islam. Later he built this mosque in Jhowdia for worship. The exquisitely beautiful Jhowdia Shahi Mosque is known as one of the oldest architectures in Kushtia today.

The artistically crafted main structure of the mosque has three domes, three doors and three queues for prayers. And the beautiful five domes on the top of the mosque and the two minarets at the inner entrance can be noticed. Apart from this, there are two beautiful windows made of lime and surki on the north and south sides of Jhowdia Shahi Mosque. The mosque is built of mud tali, lime and surki so it is quite cool inside. But the main feature of the mosque is the decorated wall. Sufi saint's grave is next to Shahi Mosque. In 1969, the mosque was registered by the Bangladesh Archaeological Directorate. Nowadays, numerous worshipers and visitors from far and wide come to pray and visit the mosque.

Kushtia can be reached by bus and train from Dhaka. From Dhaka's Kalyanpur bus stand, you can take New SB Super Deluxe, Shyamoli, Hanif or Pabna bound buses to reach Kushtia via Padma multipurpose bridge. Bus fare non AC 600-700 taka, AC 1000-1200 taka. If you want to go by train, you can go by Sundarban Express, Madhumati Express and Benapole Express. Sundarban Express leaves at 8:15 AM, Madhumati Express at 3 PM and Benapole Express at 11:45 PM from Kamalapur Railway Station. The price of the ticket is Tk 410 to Tk 943 depending on the seat of the train. By train you have to get down at Kushtia Court station. You can reach Jhowdia Shahi Masjid by bus or CNG from Chourhans intersection of Kushtia city via Jhowdia-Machpara road.

Among the residential hotels of Kushtia city, Hotel Ratul, Hotel Noor, Hotel Liberty, Padma Hotel and Shapla Hotel are notable.

Kushtia town has restaurants like Kheya Restaurant, Palki, Chillis Food Park, Jahangir Hotel and Shilpi Hotel etc. If you have a chance, you can try Kushtia's famous sesame khwaja and kulfi.

Other places of interest in Kushtia include Lalon Shah's shrine, Lalon Shah Bridge, Mir Musharraf Hossain's Bastuvita, Tegar Lodge, Rabindra Tagore's Kuthibari and Museum.

Feature Image: Shubo Shoaib