Tipu Sultan Mosque

This site of marvel has the capacity to withhold 1000 people at once. The mosque is double-aisled and has 16 domes and 4 minars. Painted in green externally, it has fine and intricate carvings in the walls of the mosque giving it an impressive appearance. Facing South, the religious place is of religious and historic attraction. Another mosque resembling this Islamic grandeur is located at Tollygunge which was constructed prior to this.

There is no particular dress code for visitors. During prayer, women are expected to be covered fully and preferably wear a pardha; men are expected to be covered till their ankle and wear the cap.

Gholam Mohammed using all his powers bought a land in Central Kolkata and built this mosque in 1842. This mosque was built in the memory of his father Tipu Sultan. In the early 80’s, the mosque was damaged during the construction of metro railways in the Esplanade area. However, within a short span of time, the masjid was restored with the help of Tipu Sultan Shahi Masjid Protection & Welfare committee which was established in 1980 and the Metro Railways. The primary motive for the establishment of the committee was to create awareness among the people regarding the damage caused to the mosque during the construction of metro.

Currently, the Tipu Sultan masjid and the mosque at Tollygunge are both managed by Ghulam Mohammad Wakf Estate. All the expenses for the mosques are managed using the properties possessed by the royal family trust headed by His Highness Prince Anwar Ali and the officials appointed by the Kolkata High Court. The Committee members of the mosque not just manage the masjid judiciously but  are also extremely considerate. During the Tsunami in 2004, they raised funds which was a part of Prime Minister’s Tsunami Fund.

The mosque is considered as sacred and religious by all Muslims, especially those of the state. Very recently, the masjid also built a temporary shamianah within the premises and allowed the entry of women during the time of Ramzan. Iftar and evening prayers were offered for women during that period of time.

There are many scenic places of visit around the mosque. Just 2.2 kilometers away is the Rabindra Sarovar Lake which is an artificial lake spread over 73 acres. Being over 100 years old, it has more than 50 species of trees and shrubs. At 5.5 kilometers from the masjid, the Zoological Park of Kolkata is located. It has various breeds of lions, tigers and other megafaunas and is spread over a large area of about 46 acres. It is one of the most popular places of visit in the city. Within a circumference of few kilometers from the mosque, there are many temples, lakes and sanctuaries that can be visited.

The climate in Howrah is very comfortable during the months of December, January and February. Travelling and visiting the mosque during this time of the year would make it a pleasant and cherishable experience. However, as the summers at Howrah are also not very extreme, planning the trip during that time is also a good option.

The mosque is located at 185 Dhartamtalla Street, in the banks of the river Hooghly in Kolkata. It is located in the heart of the city amidst a bustling road 22 kilometres from central Howrah. Local buses, autos, taxis, trains and metro are available at ease to reach the masjid. The closest railway station is in Howrah, at a distance of 12 kilometres from Tipu Sultan mosque. Kolkata Airport is the closest airport from the mosque which is 16.5 kilometres away. Various modes of transportation are available to commute to the nearby places of visit. Metros and Taxis are easily accessible at all points in the city. Private or hired vehicles can also be arranged for a personal journey with family and friends.