Bara Katra, Great Caravanserai, was one of two major caravanserais in Dhaka. Katra comes from the Arabic Katara which means colonnade and (as in Persian) caravan sarai or simply sarai. This once palatial building complex from the time of the Mughal dynasty is one of the oldest buildings in Dhaka. Bara Katra was commissioned by a confidante of Mughal Prince Shah Shuja between 1644 and 1646 and was to serve as the residence of Shah Shuja – the 2nd son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal – in his capacity as Governor of Bengal and Odisha. A side note: the Empress Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to her 14th child, after which the deeply struck Emperor Shah Jahan began building the Taj Mahal in Agra.
The original structure followed the traditional pattern of a Central Asian caravanserai and was decorated according to Mughal architecture. Originally it comprised a square inner courtyard. The south wing extended about 70 meters in the direction of Buriganga. In the middle is the huge gate, which consists of a deep arch that rises to the second floor and above which were the windows of the third floor, in the middle of which the main entrance. The entire entrance area was splendidly decorated in the Moorish style. The main part of the wing was two-story and was surmounted by high octagonal towers. The entrance led to a guard room, then to an equally splendidly decorated domed hall and finally to the inner courtyard itself. On the ground floor of the south wing there were five vaults on both sides of the gate. On the upper floor, the living space opens up from a corridor. The north wing was constructed in a similar way, but the gate there was far less opulent. The east and west wings were built as a single storey and were around 70 meters long. Shops and living quarters surrounded the courtyard on all four sides.
The current state can only be described as extremely miserable. This building too, which was described by the orientalist James Atkinson in the 19th century as an extremely astonishing collection of magnificent, even beautiful architecture is likely to be doomed because, if at all, only less than half of the original buildings remain (that too only rudimentary). The actually responsible Department of Archeology attributes this to legal disputes and resistance from the owners, which made a takeover impossible. In addition, both Katras are used illegally (Bara Katra as a madrasa, Chhota Katra as a manufactory) and the sparse remains have been and are enormously changed (functional buildings) or even removed.
The Chhota Katra, Small Caravanserai, is about 350 meters to the east as the crow flies and is practically the younger sister but – contrary to what the name suggests – the larger sister of the Bara Katra in terms of area. Chhota Katra was built for the Governor of Bengal Mirza Abu Talib (better known as Shaista Khan) between 1663 and 1671. Shaista Khan was an uncle of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the 3rd son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal. Under the authority of Shaista Khan, Dhaka and the Mughal power reached their zenith in the province of Bengal. His achievements include the construction of notable mosques such as the Sat Gambuj Mosque and the conquest of Chittagong. Shaista Khan was (albeit indirectly) the catalyst for the outbreak of war with the East India Company.
Basically, the Katra was built as a residence for Shaista Khan’s growing family, but was also intended to accommodate high-ranking officials. Here, too, the traditional structure of a Central Asian caravanserai with Moorish and Indian elements was followed. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Mughal Empire began to collapse and Bengal became independent again. Dhaka itself and its buildings lost in importance and only the British rediscovered the buildings, made some additions and used Chhota Katra as one of the first English secondary schools in Dhaka (1816). In addition to these two central structures, there were a few more such as the Maya Katra, Muqim Katra, Nawab Katra etc. which were mainly used as guest houses.
If the state of the Bara Katra is described as extremely miserable the state of it can only be described as appalling. There is little that reminds of the once so magnificent building ensemble, which measured approx. 100m x 90m in its rectangular floor plan and had a gate each in the north and south (main entrance). Inside was once a single-domed square mausoleum of Champa Bibi (believed to have been either a daughter or a concubine of Shaista Khan) and a small mosque – both lost.
In 1874 Dhaka was on a prestigious visit: Thomas George Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook, Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, member of Her Majesty’s Most Honorable Privy Council, member of the Royal Society (the island in Franz Josef Land in the Arctic Ocean, discovered on August 14, 1880 by the British polar explorer Benjamin Leigh Smith on his fourth polar voyage, was named after him, the Northbrook-Island), member of the House of Lords and Governor General and Viceroy of India, in short: Lord Northbrook. To commemorate this important visit, the upper class of Dhaka donated the city a building appropriate to the event. It should be a new town hall which should also bear the name of the distinguished visitor, Northbrook Hall. The building was inaugurated with great pomp in 1880, two years later a clubhouse, the Johnson Hall, was built on the south side. At that time one had a clear view of the Buriganga from both buildings. Johnson Hall also acted as the Northbrook Public Library, which quickly became known for its literary collection (15,000 books). On February 7, 1926, the literary community of Dhaka honoured the Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore here.
Like many buildings of this time, this one was built in the Indo-Saracen style, a mix of Moorish and European (Renaissance) architectural features. The large main entrance as well as the four minarets on the north side were designed in the Mughal or Moorish style, as were the battlements, the ornamental parapet and the ornamental domes. Features of the European Renaissance can be found in the decorations on the windows, doors and walls. From 1950 Northbrook Hall was used as a telegram office and later as a college for women.
Nowadays the listed building is flanked by vulgar functional buildings and almost crushed and an ugly, functionless pentagram fountain ruins the view of the main entrance in the north. The substantial condition of Northbrook Hall itself is comparatively good, at least in comparison to Johnson Hall or the Northbrook Public Library, which unfortunately is in a very desolate condition. As is so often the case, the responsible authorities (Department of Archeology) unfortunately show little interest here, rather the library seems to be left to its own devices, including many of the books.
A visit to the church is actually a must if it weren’t for the permanently locked gates. Approval from the administration of the Church of Bangladesh (to which the Oxford Mission belongs) is inevitable, but as is the case with Bangladesh, administrations and permits: hardly feasible for mere mortals, believers or visitors. Traditionally, the bishop of the Dhaka/Barishal diocese is ordained here. The spectacular structure is exceptionally well preserved and still offers the same appearance today as on the first sketches from 1903.
About the story:
In the early 18th century, Barishal attracted many Christian missionaries, including the Oxford Mission, an Anglican ministry based in England. In 1895 it founded the Brotherhood of Revelation, and in 1902 a sisterhood was founded in Barishal. The mission organization opened a boarding school, a youth hostel, an orphanage, a primary school and a hospital. The work of the sisters was very diverse, including evangelism, medical work and women’s education.
The Oxford Mission Church was consecrated on January 26th, 1903 and completed in 1907. The architect was Frederick Douglas. While the building, designed in the Greek architectural style, appears to be multi-storey from the outside, it actually only consists of the ground floor, but with a huge prayer hall, the main attraction of the building. The large cross on the main altar comes from Bethlehem. There is a chapel. Aside from many doors on three sides, there are 40 archways and numerous corridors to strengthen the main structure of the church.
The separate bell tower, also made of red brick, houses a large bell which is rung five minutes before prayer. The bell tower also houses the church’s office space. The Oxford Mission High School, a hospital, a library, a student residence, the living quarters of the bishop, a father and the sisters are also in the demarcated area.
To the description
Seclusion, the combination of natural beauty, endless beach and the sea on the Bay of Bengal, solitude and a taste of the Sundarbans: Mangrove forest. All of this once stood for Kuakata, but it is increasingly rare to find there, rather crowds, noise, garbage and a merciless approach to nature. Unfortunately. However, the hinterland of Kuakata offers an alternative...
To the description
An imambara is a religious building of the Shiites, especially for the celebration of the Muharram. This raises the first question for the non-Muslim: Sunnis, Shiites, difference? Since we are not a forum for questions of religion, the answer in short form: The drama began with the death of the Prophet Muhammad (June 8th 632) and the question of the successor or the new spiritual leader. On the one hand, there were those who believed that the religious leader could be chosen almost freely. On the other hand, it was believed that the new spiritual leader must be a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. Two different camps formed: One appointed the father-in-law and also the fatherly friend of Muhammad as the new spiritual head (Abu Bakr). The others claimed that the Prophet had chosen his son-in-law (Ali) to succeed him. With that, the faiths began to drift apart. The followers of Ali became Shiites, which can be derived from the Arabic word sía (successor) and refers to the first successors of Ali. Those of Abu Bakr became Sunnis, which is derived from the Arabic sunna (custom, traditional norm). We want to leave it at that. Shiite Muslims pray three times a day, while Sunnis pray five times. In addition, each belief has a different view of Islam. Most of the Shiite communities are in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. Shiite Muslims are a minority in Dhaka, as in the rest of the country.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. The tenth day of Muharram is known as the Day of Ashura. Sunnis celebrate this day on the occasion of various events (including the stranding of the Prophet Noah after the flood) by fasting. Shiites begin with the mourning on the first night of Muharram, continue it for the next ten nights up to the climax, the Day of Ashura. They mourn the tragedy of Hussain ibn Ali (the Prophet’s grandson) and his family. Husain ibn Ali, his family and 72 of his followers were killed in 680 by the army of Yazid I in the battle of Karbala (present-day Iraq). The survivors were captured, had to march through the desert to Damascus and were imprisoned there. Back to the Imambara:
Hussaini Dalan, was built in the second half of the 17th century for the Shiite community and named after Husain ibn Ali. The building was built by Mir Murad under Prince Shah Shuja, the son of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Although Shuja was a Sunni Muslim, he also supported Shiite institutions. According to tradition, Mir Murad had a vision of Hussain ibn Ali, which led to the construction of Hussaini Dalan. The construction date (second half of the 17th century) is controversial, but Hussaini Dalan in its current form is attributed to Naib Nazim Nusrat Jung, who rebuilt the Imambara in 1823. The complex was rebuilt and expanded after the earthquake of 1897 by the Nawab of Dhaka Sir Khwaja Ahsanuallah Bahadur, a veranda was added on the south side.
The main building is in the middle of the complex on an area of approx. 88 m². An attractively built arched gate to the north provides access to the building, while an artificial pond is located directly to the south of the building. The exterior incorporates both, Mughal and European architectural traditions. The south porch overlooking the pond best shows the European backdrop. The veranda is supported by columns of Doric order. Mughal features can be seen in the adjoining three-story pavilion in the form of arched windows and a series of decorative battlements on the roof. The ground floor with the large Shirni- and Khutba-Hall on a platform above grave rooms forms the core of the building complex, which is opulently decorated with calligraphy, oriental architectural elements and pictures of the battle of Karbala. For women, picturesque two-story adjoining rooms have been created on both sides of the halls and there are a number of rooms in the east and west as well as galleries on the second floor.
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