Katra Masjid
| Katra Masjid | |
|---|---|
The former caravanserai and mosque, in 2017 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shia Islam (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Caravanserai, mosque and tomb |
| Ownership | Government of West Bengal |
| Status | Inactive; (in partial ruins) |
| Location | |
| Location | Murshidabad, West Bengal |
| Country | India |
Location of the former caravanserai and mosque in West Bengal | |
| Administration | Archaeological Survey of India |
| Geographic coordinates | 24°11′05″N 88°17′17″E / 24.184722°N 88.288056°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Murad Farash Khan |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Founder | Nawab Murshid Quli Khan |
| Completed | 1137 AH (1724/1725 CE) |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | Five (two destroyed) |
| Minaret(s) | Four (two destroyed) |
| Minaret height | 21 m (70 ft) |
| Shrine(s) | One (Tomb of Nawab Murshid Quli Khan) |
| Inscriptions | Two |
| Materials | Brick; basalt |
| Official name | Tomb and Mosque of Murshid Quli Khan (also Katra Masjid) |
| Reference no. | N-WB-120 |
The Katra Masjid is a former Shia caravanserai, mosque and tomb, in a partial ruinous state, located in the north eastern side of the city of Murshidabad, in the state of West Bengal, India. The complex contains the tomb of its founder, Nawab Murshid Quli Khan, and is one of the largest caravanserais in the Indian subcontinent, with capacity for 700 readers at any one time. Built in 1137 AH (1724/1725 CE), when the early modern Bengal Subah was a major hub of trade in Eurasia, the most striking feature of the structure are the two large corner towers having loopholes for musketry. The structure was significantly damaged by the 1897 Indian earthquake.
The site is a Monument of National Importance, maintained and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1910, and the Government of West Bengal.