Hooghly Imambara

Hooghly Imambara is a Shia Muslim congregation hall and mosque in Hooghly, West Bengal, India.^[1][2][3] The construction of the building was started by Muhammad Mohsin in 1841 and completed in 1861.^[4] The building is a two storied structure, with a tall clock tower over the entrance gate.^[1] The mosque has intricate designs and texts from Quran engraved on the wall. The interior of the mosque is decorated with marbles, candles and hanging lanterns.

Hooghly Imambara
Main façade and clocktower of Hooghly Imambara
Religion
Affiliation	Shia Islam
Sect	Twelver
District	Hooghly district
Status	Mosque and Imambara
Location
Location	Hooghly
Municipality	Hugli-Chuchura
State	West Bengal
Country	India
Shown within West Bengal Show map of West Bengal Hooghly Imambara (India) Show map of India
Geographic coordinates	22°54′30.4″N 88°23′59.58″E
Architecture
Style	Islamic architecture
Founder	Muhammad Mohsin
Date established	1841
Completed	1861
Website
Hooghly Imambargah

Clock

Vaunted clock of the Imambara tower

Hooghly Imambara is famous for its vaunted clock.^[1] It is at the middle of the twin towers constructed on the doorway of the main entrance. Each tower, having a height of approximately 150 ft., takes 152 steps to reach its top. The clock has two dials with three bells having weight 80 mds, 40 mds and 30 mds. Smaller bells ring at an interval of 15 minutes and bigger bell rings to signify one hour. The clock requires two people to wind it for half an hour of each week, with a key weighing 20 kg. It was bought for Rs. 11,721 (in 1852) by Syed Keramat Ali from the manufacturer: M/s Black & Hurray Co., Big Ben, London.^[5]

Location

It is in Hooghly District of West Bengal in India. People coming from Kolkata have to take a train (Local or Express) to Naihati Junction. From Naihati, they have to catch the Bandel Local train and they get off at Hooghly Ghat Station. From there, Imambara is in a walking distance. There are rickshaws and autos to ferry visitors to the Imambara from the station. Or, the best way to come possibly is to go to Howrah Station and avail the straight trains (local EMUs) to Bandel, which are more frequent and less crowded. One needs to get down at Hooghly Station, and take autos/totos/rickshaws to the Imambara.

Gallery

• 
  Photograph of the Hughly Imambara from Calcutta, Past & Present by Kathleen Blechynden
• 
  The rear portion of Imambara of Hooghly
• 
  The sun dial of Hooghly's Imambara
• 
  Imambara courtyard
• 
  B&W Version
• 
  Inside the prayer hall of Imambara
• 
  Clock tower
• 
  Hooghly River view from clock tower of Imambara
• 
  An inside view
• 
  Courtyard
• 
  The wall inscription of Hooghly Imambara in West Bengal, writing about activities of its founder and philanthropist Muhammad Mohsin.

See also

• Architecture of Bengal
• Shia Islam in India

References

1. Mukherjee, Sreecheta (2011). "Hazi Muhammad Mohsin's Hooghly Imambara: a Tale of Diminishing Glory" (PDF). Chitrolekha International Magazine on Art and Design. 1 (3). Retrieved 17 February 2013.
2. "Hooghly Imambargah". Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
3. Haji Mohammed Mohsin Waqf Estate
4. "Next weekend you can be at ... Hooghly". The Telegraph. 26 February 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
5. Pinakpani (28 November 2021), English: Hooghly Imambara, congregation hall and mosque in Hooghly, West Bengal, retrieved 28 November 2021