Star Mosque

About this place

Star Mosque, also known as Tara Masjid, is a mosque in the Armanitola district of Old Dhaka, decorated with motifs of blue stars. It appears on the Bangladeshi 100-taka note, so it is familiar to everyone in the country. Small as it is, it remains among the finest mosques in the capital, and stepping inside you see walls that read like a single painting. It was built by a local nobleman, Mirza Ghulam Pir, who died in 1860, and was first known by his name. It began as a simple rectangular mosque in the Mughal style, with three doorways on the east front. In 1926 a businessman named Ali Jan Bepari renovated it, adding the stars and other motifs, which gave it its present name. From outside you see a white facade with arches and domes covered in stars, with a courtyard and water basin before it. Inside, patterns of white tile with blue stars and flowers cover the walls and surround the mihrab, and red carpet runs between the columns. This is a place of worship, so keep quiet and avoid prayer times. It is about 900 m in a straight line from Ahsan Manzil and about 1.4 km from Lalbagh Fort. Dress modestly, women should cover their hair, and take off your shoes on entering. Ask before taking photos inside.