ARFILE MOSQUE

Arifile Mosque is situated in Sarail Upazila, Brahambaria district, Bangladesh and founded in 1662.

The name is derived from Arif to Arifile and is locally known as Arail Mosque. This is an example of Mughal architecture, which combined Bengali, Persian and Islamic influences.

Wonderful architectural techniques, styles and crafts outside the mosque reminds the beauty of The Taj Mahal. The mosque floor occupied by 24.38 m x 9.30 m rectangular area. Height nearly 8 m. Each wall is 1.6 m wide bearing weight of the roof. There is a yard affront the mosque boundary opened at a modern gate in the east. Four octagonal pillars making stronger the corners of the mosque and passing through the horizontal parapets those are topped with kalasa finials. Two bigger domes built on the roof keeping middle main dome, based on rectangular supporting structure inside the mosque like half domed vim. Out of five exits three in the east and each one in the north and south side, middle main door is bigger. All Mihrabs are similar in size except depth of the Middle of the West side. Ancient echo system applied here by smooth polishing of floor, walls, Mahrabs and domes inside to reflect addresses each corner equally.

The mosque is designed by friezes of blind merlons spiral scroll on the frames of mihrabs and rectangular frames. Middle, north and south doors are deep arched alcove. Half domed vim and middle mihrab ornamented with muqarnas in stucco.

This mosque is under care of Archaeology Department of Bangladesh.

Acknowledgement and further reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arifil_Mosque