Pandua Minar and Bari Mosque

Pandua Minar and Bari Mosque is a 14th-century heritage complex in Pandua town, Hooghly district, West Bengal. The Bari Mosque, also called Bais Darwaza Mosque, and the adjacent 38-metre five-storey minar were built during the Bengal Sultanate period under Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah. Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, the brick structures showcase early Bengal Islamic architecture and mark Pandua's historic role as a medieval capital.

Visitors can explore a large brick mosque with 21 arched doorways, ruined prayer halls, and thick walls, alongside a 38-metre five-storey minar with internal staircase. The complex is set in an open, semi-rural area with lawns and exposed brickwork. Visitors can walk around the exterior, view architectural details, photograph the minar and mosque facades, and observe conservation work by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The complex dates to 1340 CE during the reign of Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, founder of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty and Sultan of Bengal. Pandua served as the capital of the Bengal Sultanate in the 14th century. The Bari Mosque was built as a congregational mosque and the minar was erected to commemorate Ilyas Shah's conquests and as an azan tower. It represents early Indo-Islamic brick architecture in Bengal.

The site is an important example of Bengal Sultanate Islamic architecture, featuring brick construction, arched openings and a monumental minar. It reflects the cultural and religious history of medieval Bengal and is revered as a historic Islamic religious site. Protected as a monument of national importance, it illustrates the architectural transition in Bengal during the 14th century.