Chini Masjid, Saidpur
A 19th-century mosque in Saidpur whose walls glitter with mosaics of broken china and glass.
Chini Masjid in the railway town of Saidpur began in 1863 as a small prayer house built by local residents, and was enlarged and decorated over the following decades. Its name comes from the chinaware: the walls are covered with mosaics made from broken porcelain plates and glass, set in floral and geometric patterns that sparkle in the sun.
The building has several domes and a cluster of slender minarets, and the decoration materials, including marble, were brought from Kolkata. Compared with the grand Mughal monuments elsewhere, it is a small and personal building, but the detail rewards a close look. It stands in the Islambagh area, and the old railway colonies of Saidpur are worth a wander nearby.
How to go
Saidpur is about 20 km south of Nilphamari town (bus ≈40 min, 30-50 BDT) and has an airport with daily flights from Dhaka. A rickshaw from the town centre to Islambagh costs 20-40 BDT.
Where to stay
Saidpur has several mid-range hotels (1,500-4,000 BDT).
