The Hooghly Imambara is a

Twelver Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the Islamic schools and branches, largest branch of Shia Islam, Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twel ...

Shia Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...

congregation hall and

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

, located in Hooghly, in the state of

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. The construction of the building was started by

Muhammad Mohsin Haji Muhammad Mohsin ( – 29 November 1812) was a prominent Bengali Muslim philanthropist and Educator. His most notable contribution was establishing the Hooghly Mohsin College and the Hooghly Imambara. He also played a significant role during ...

in 1841 and completed in 1861. The building is a two-storied structure, with a tall clock tower over the entrance gate. The mosque has intricate designs and texts from

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

engraved on the wall. The interior of the mosque is decorated with marbles, candles and hanging lanterns.

Clock

The Hooghly Imambara is famous for its vaunted

clock A clock or chronometer is a device that measures and displays time. The clock is one of the oldest Invention, human inventions, meeting the need to measure intervals of time shorter than the natural units such as the day, the lunar month, a ...

. It is at the middle of the twin towers constructed on the doorway of the main entrance. Each tower, is approximately high, with 152 steps to reach to its top. The clock has two dials with three bells that weigh 80 mds, 40 mds and 30 mds. Smaller bells ring at an interval of 15 minutes and larger bell rings to signify one hour. The clock requires two people to wind it for half an hour of each week, with a key that weighs . The clock was bought for Rs. 11,721 (in 1852) by Syed Keramat Ali from the manufacturer: M/s Black & Hurray Co., Big Ben,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

Accessibility

People who come from

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

typically to take a train to Naihati Junction railway station, and then they catch the

Bandel Bandel is a city in the Hooghly district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It was founded by Portuguese Empire, Portuguese settlers and falls under the jurisdiction of Chandernagore Police Commissionerate. It is a part of the area covered by ...

local train to the Hooghly Ghat station. From there, the Imambara is a short walking distance. There are rickshaws and autos to ferry visitors to the Imambara from the station. An alternative is to access the Imambara via

Howrah railway station Howrah railway station (also known as Howrah Junction) is a railway station located in the city of Howrah, of Kolkata Metropolitan Area, West Bengal, India. It is the largest and busiest railway complex in India, as well as one of the List of ...

and access the straight trains (local EMUs), which are more frequent and less crowded, to Bandel. From the

Hooghly railway station Hooghly is a Kolkata Suburban Railway station on the Howrah–Bardhaman main line. It is located in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It serves Hugli-Chuchura and surrounding areas. History East Indian Railway Company ...

, autos, totos, and rickshaws provide easy access to the Imambara.

Gallery

Calcutta, Past and Present p221a.png, Photograph of the Imambara from ''Calcutta, Past & Present'', by Kathleen Blechynden Imambara Hooghly02.jpg, The rear portion of the Imambara Imambara Hooghly04.jpg, The sun dial of the Imambara Imambara hooghly.jpg, Imambara courtyard B&W Hooghly Imambara Corridor.jpg, B&W version Hooghly Imambara, in and outside views 10.jpg, Inside the prayer hall Hooghly Imambara Clock tower.jpg, Clock tower Clocktower view of Hooghly river from Hooghly Imambara.jpg, View of the Hooghly River from the clock tower An inside view of the Hooghly Imambara.jpg, An inside view Hooghly Imambara, in and outside views 02.jpg, Courtyard The wall inscription of Hooghly Imambara.jpg, The inscription about activities of Muhammad Mohsin

References

External links

{{Mosques in India Buildings and structures in Hooghly district Husayniyyas Indo-Islamic mosques Mosques in West Bengal Religious buildings and structures completed in 1861 Shia mosques in India Tourist attractions in Hooghly district Twelver Shia mosques Twelver Shia shrines

Clock

Accessibility

Gallery

See also

References

External links