Kusumba Mosque travel guide

At a glance

Built

1558–59

Period

Afghan Sur dynasty (Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah)

Material

Black basalt

Known for

Pictured on the 5-taka note

History and details

According to its inscription, the mosque was built in 1558–59 by an official named Sulaiman during the reign of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah of the Afghan Sur dynasty. Standing on the west bank of Kusumba Dighi, it is one of the very few old stone mosques in Bangladesh.

The six-domed mosque has brick walls inside faced with black stone outside. In the north-west corner inside is a raised stone platform, thought to have been used by women or the ruler for prayer. The mihrab has fine carvings of grapevines and flowers. The mosque appears on Bangladesh's five-taka note.

Many folk tales surround the huge Kusumba Dighi in front, about 77 bighas in size.

Things to do

• See the stone carving of the mihrab
• Sit on the bank of Kusumba Dighi
• Take a photo matching the 5-taka note

How to get to Kusumba Mosque

In Manda upazila, beside the Naogaon–Rajshahi highway.

Naogaon is about 250 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 5–6 hours.

• 🚌 By bus: Naogaon buses from Gabtoli/Mohakhali (Hanif, Shyamoli, SR), fare ৳600–750.
• 🚆 By train: Jamalganj station is closest for Paharpur.

Where to stay

• Mid-range hotels in Naogaon town; Parjatan rest house at Paharpur

What to eat

Naogaon's para sandesh, mangoes

Good to know

• See the fine carving of the stone mihrab inside

More to see nearby

• Naogaon town (40 km)
• Rajshahi (40 km)
• Dibar Dighi (40 km)

More places to visit in Naogaon district

• Paharpur Buddhist Vihara — The 8th-century Somapura Mahavihara; the largest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Dibar Dighi — A memorial pillar of the 11th-century Kaibarta revolt in the middle of a pond.
• Patisar Kuthibari — Rabindranath Tagore's estate office on the bank of the Nagar River.
• Altadighi National Park — A huge pond ringed by sal forest, near the Indian border.

Location on the map