Eklakhi Mausoleum

The Eklakhi Mausoleum is a 15th-century brick mausoleum located in Pandua, Malda district, West Bengal. Built around 1425, it houses the tomb of Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah, son of Raja Ganesha. Regarded as the earliest surviving square single-domed mausoleum in Bengal, it is noted for its massive brick walls, single hemispherical dome, curved cornice, and terracotta ornamentation, representing a formative example of Bengal Sultanate architecture.

Visitors can expect a large square brick structure with thick walls, a single hemispherical dome, curved cornice and terracotta decoration set in a quiet, open compound in Pandua. The interior contains three tombs, believed to be of Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah, his wife and son. The site is an Archaeological Survey of India protected monument with open grounds for walking, viewing exterior brickwork and photography.

Built around 1425 during the reign of Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah (1415-1433), son of Raja Ganesha, the Eklakhi Mausoleum is considered the earliest extant square brick mausoleum with a single dome in Bengal. It marks the transition to the distinctive Bengal Sultanate style and is said to have cost one lakh rupees, giving it the name Eklakhi. It houses the sultan's tomb along with two others.

The mausoleum is a significant example of early Bengal Sultanate architecture, combining Islamic dome and arch forms with local Bengali brick and terracotta traditions, curved cornice and indigenous craftsmanship. It influenced the design of later mosques and tombs in Bengal and is valued as a heritage and architectural landmark of Pandua, the former capital of Bengal.