The Jami Mosque (Lat. 250 04‘ 29’’ N., Long. – 870 46’ 46’’ E.) is located at Mangalhat, 7 km from Rajmahal and about 32 km from the district headquarter Sahibganj and about 480 km from Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand. Jami Mosque was built in the last quarter of the 16th century AD by Raja Mansingh, the Governor of Emperor Akbar.
It is situated on a high land known as “Hadaf” which is an Arabic term that means the target of Archery butts. Hadaf was part of Rajmahal township where the capital was shifted in 1592 AD from Gaur due to the change of course of the river Ganga and further the population being decimated by some epidemic in 1575 AD.
The Mosque, locally called as Jami Masjid is consisted of a large prayer hall to the west, a spacious courtyard enclosed by a high compound wall with arched recesses on its inner-side, and it has three gateways on the north, south and east, the last being the main entrance with a porch in its front. Originally, the entire buildings measured 76.20 mt x 64.00 mt but over the years its southern portion, its northern portion had collapsed.
In the first floor, there are many dark rooms with few holes. It is said that the queens were allowed to watch the court proceedings from these holes. One the way to Jami Masjid from railway station one can see a lot of ruins which are unattended.
At present the Ranchi circle of ASI has taken up its conservation, required restoration work is in progress. The prayer chamber of the mosque consisted of a large central hall that looks two storied from outside because of the effect produced by large windows and the continuous parapet below it. The western wall of the prayer chamber consists of several niches with some floral designs picked out in stucco. The architectural features of the mosque are so impressive that a scholar describes it to be a building of “vastly more taste and far surpasses any of the buildings in Gaur…” i.e. present day Bengal.
It is built in the same architecture of Delhi Juma Masjid. Some parts of Masjid were ruined but govt has rebuilt it. It is located facing Baradari Palace at the coasts of River Ganges, which is in the north, just few walk distance. It’s having botanical garden and compound for prayer with brilliantly craftsman work on the walls of the prayer hall, but, namaz (prayer) isn’t allowed there., This very place is touched by Samrat Akbar. And still it carries the feeling of the past. The history of the Eastern India frequently pivoted by this place.
How to reach there?
You can come here by train through the station Taljhari at Barharwa Sahebgaunje line of the eastern railway and the nearest place to stay at the ISKON temple or hotel at Rajmahal or Sahebgaunj. To travel this area two days indeed is required as rental vehicle is available. The best time to come here is the winter.