 |
| Shah Suja Guest House, Chapai Nawabganj |
Shah Suja, the second son of the Emperor Shah Jahan who constructed the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, had strong connections with Bengal, of which he was Viceroy for a brief period in the 1640s, and especially with Bangladesh.
In fact, during his brief period of responsibility, the ancient capital of Gaur conceded its position to the rapidly growing Dhaka, where he built a palace that still, just about, stands in the old city: the Bara Katra.
 |
| Mughal Mosque, Chapai Nawabganj |
His is a dramatic story, son of a great Emperor, whose third son imprisoned him, and also murdered the eldest son, and drove the second, Shah Suja, into exile and oblivion.
It is, perhaps, unsurprising that at Chapai Nawabganj, the corner of Bangladesh that was once a part of that ancient capital Gaur, we should find a fine Guest House, still relatively intact, beside two fine Mughal period mosques in terracotta. Unsurprising, because when Shah Suja was recalled to Delhi, he left behind his Bara Katra palace, with 20 shop premises to generate income for the sustainability of the building as a Guest House for travellers and hostel for the indigent.
 |
| Mughal Mosque, Chapai Nawabganj |
There are few such groups of fine Mughal buildings in Bangladesh, and that they are ignored by tourists is strange, until a casual Google search reveals no mention of them. Curiouser and curiouser!
the second son of the Emperor Shah Jahan who constructed the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, had strong connections with Bengal, of which he was Viceroy for a brief period in the 1640s, and especially with Bangladesh. guesthouse whitley bay
ReplyDelete