Directory Historical Places

Shah Jalal Dargah

Dargah Mahalla, Sylhet Every day: Open; no published schedule

The shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal on its hillock in north Sylhet — the most visited shrine in Bangladesh, with its sacred pigeons and fish pond.

About

Shah Jalal (1271–1347) is the Sufi saint traditionally credited with bringing Islam to Sylhet. After the conquest of the town he settled on this low hillock with his companions, and his grave became the most visited shrine in the country.

The compound holds his unusually large open-roofed grave under a cloth canopy, four mosques — the largest, the Bara Gumbad, dates from the 1670s — a retreat, a madrasa and the graves of his companions. Visitors feed the catfish and snakeheads in the tank and the blue-grey Jalali pigeons, said to descend from a pair given to the saint by Nizamuddin Auliya. In the kitchen stand three huge brass cauldrons, and relics including swords, a Quran, robes and wooden sandals are kept on site.

The annual urs brings thousands of pilgrims from Bangladesh and India.

Facilities & highlights

  • The most visited shrine in Bangladesh
  • Jalali pigeons and the fish pond
  • Bara Gumbad mosque, 1670s
  • Giant brass cauldrons
  • Free

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