Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)

A small but extraordinarily decorated mosque in Armanitola, the old Armenian quarter of Dhaka, whose every surface — walls, domes, interior arches — is encrusted with star-shaped mosaic patterns made from Chinese porcelain fragments. The effect is unlike any other mosque in Bangladesh: more like entering a jewellery box than a place of worship.

The mosque dates from the early 18th century but was radically transformed in the 19th century when a local merchant commissioned the tile decoration. Non-Muslim visitors are generally welcome outside of prayer times; dress modestly and remove shoes at the entrance. It is a ten-minute walk from Ahsan Manzil through the lanes of old Dhaka.

things to do sight
A story
The Star Mosque's original 18th-century structure was built by a nawab named Mirza Golam Pir (known as Mirza Ahmed Jan Ispahani). In the 19th century, a merchant named Ali Jan Bepari extended the mosque and commissioned the extraordinary tile decoration using Chinese porcelain that gives the mosque its current appearance. The blue and white star motifs covering every surface were assembled from imported plates and bowls — early Dhaka recycling.

Other places in Things to Do