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{{Short description|Ruined city in the Malda district of the Indian state of West Bengal}}
{{Other uses|Pandua (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Adina (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}{{cleanup gallery|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Pandua
|alternate_name = Hazrat Pandua, Firuzabad
|image = Adina Mosque at Malda district of West Bengal 04.jpg
|alt =
|caption = [[Mihrab]]s, arches and pillar remnants in Adina Mosque
|map_type = India West Bengal
|map_alt =
|coordinates = {{coord|25.140|88.153|type:city_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
|location = [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
|region =
|type = Settlement
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|built = 14th century
|abandoned = 16th century
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|notes =
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'''Pandua''', also historically known as '''Hazrat Pandua''' and later '''Firuzabad''', is a ruined city in the [[Malda district]] of the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]]. It served as the capital city of the independent [[Sultanate of Bengal]] for nearly a century, until the capital was moved to nearby [[Gauḍa (city)|Lakhnauti]] in 1450.<ref>Aniruddha Ray (13 September 2016). Towns and Cities of Medieval India: A Brief Survey. Taylor & Francis. p. 165. {{ISBN|978-1-351-99731-7}}.</ref>

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=370| height=320| zoom=9
| coord={{coord|25|8|0|N|88|8|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Cities, towns and locations in the northern portion of Malda district (including Chanchal subdivision and Old Malda, Habibpur, Bamangola and Gazole CD blocks)'''<br/> M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, F: Facility, H: historical centre<br/>Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|25|23|34|N|87|59|44|E}} | label-pos1=right|label1= Chanchal | numbered1=CT| mark-title1=[[Chanchal]] (CT)|label-color1=#800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1= #A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|24|57|46|N|88|13|55|E}} | label-pos2=left|label2= Aiho| numbered2=CT| mark-title2=[[Aiho]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|24|56|40|N|88|14|52|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3= Baksinagar| numbered3=CT| mark-title3=[[Baksinagar]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|25|12|58|N|88|12|4|E}} | label-pos4=right|label4= Bandhail| numbered4=CT| mark-title4=[[Bandhail]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|25|0|2|N|88|9|15|E}} | label-pos5=left|label5= Chhatinamor| numbered5=CT| mark-title5=[[Chhatinamor]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|25|2|46|N|88|9|50|E}} | label-pos6=left|label6= Jhangra| numbered6=CT| mark-title6=[[Jhangra, Malda]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|25|0|10|N|88|16|12|E}} | label-pos7=right|label7= Kachu Pukur| numbered7=CT| mark-title7=[[Kachu Pukur]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|24|58|59|N|88|14|51|E}} | label-pos8=right|label8= Kendua| numbered8=CT| mark-title8=[[Kendua, West Bengal]] (CT)
|mark-coord9={{coord|25|12|36|N|88|10|35|E}} | label-pos9=left|label9= Rangabhita| numbered9=CT| mark-title9=[[Rangabhita]] (CT)
|mark-coord10={{coord|24|58|55|N|88|8|25|E}} | label-pos10=left|label10= Sahapur| numbered10=CT| mark-title10=[[Sahapur, Malda]] (CT)
|mark-coord11={{coord|25|1|15|N|88|8|35|E}} | label-pos11=left|label11= Malda| numbered11=M| mark-title11=[[Malda, West Bengal]] (M) | shape-color11= #800000
|mark-coord12={{coord|25|4|5|N|88|8|31|E}} | label-pos12=left|label12= Old Malda| numbered12=M| mark-title12=[[Old Malda]] (M) | shape-color12= #800000
|mark-coord13={{coord|24|57|55|N|88|15|40|E}} | label-pos13=right|label13= Bulbulchandi| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Bulbulchandi]] (R) |shape-color13=#C40000
|mark-coord14={{coord|25|1|36|N|88|17|9|E}} | label-pos14=top|label14= Habibpur| numbered14=R| mark-title14= [[Habibpur, Malda]] (R) |shape-color14=#C40000
|mark-coord15={{coord|25|10|50|N|88|9|15|E}} | label-pos15=right|label15= Hatimari| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Hatimari]] (R) |shape-color15=#C40000
|mark-coord16={{coord|25|12|33|N|88|23|37|E}} | label-pos16=top|label16= Maheshpur| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Maheshpur, Malda]] (R) |shape-color16=#C40000
|mark-coord17={{coord|25|7|31|N|88|22|3|E}} | label-pos17=right|label17= Pakuahat| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Pakuahat]] (R) |shape-color17=#C40000
|mark-coord18={{coord|24|54|45|N|88|17|23|E}} | label-pos18=right|label18= Singhabad| numbered18=R| mark-title18= [[Singhabad]] (R) |shape-color18=#C40000
|mark-coord19={{coord|25|7|2|N|87|59|17|E}} | label-pos19=right|label19= Araidanga| numbered19=R| mark-title19= [[Araidanga]] (R) |shape-color19=#C40000
|mark-coord20={{coord|25|19|6|N|87|50|35|E}} | label-pos20=left|label20= Daulatnagar| numbered20=R| mark-title20= [[Daulatnagar]] (R) |shape-color20=#C40000
|mark-coord21={{coord|25|24|30|N|87|51|59|E}} | label-pos21=bottom|label21= Harishchandrapur| numbered21=R| mark-title21= [[Harishchandrapur]] (R) |shape-color21=#C40000
|mark-coord22={{coord|25|26|15|N|87|51|27|E}} | label-pos22=right|label22= Khanta| numbered22=R| mark-title22= [[Khanta]] (R) |shape-color22=#C40000
|mark-coord23={{coord|25|25|12|N|88|4|12|E}} | label-pos23=right|label23= Kharba| numbered23=R| mark-title23= [[Kharba]] (R) |shape-color23=#C40000
|mark-coord24={{coord|25|20|36|N|88|0|54|E}} | label-pos24=left|label24= Malatipur| numbered24=R| mark-title24= [[Malatipur, Malda]] (R) |shape-color24=#C40000
|mark-coord25={{coord|25|19|0|N|87|55|22|E}} | label-pos25=right|label25= Mashaldaha| numbered25=R| mark-title25= [[Mashaldaha]] (R) |shape-color25=#C40000
|mark-coord26={{coord|25|27|30|N|87|52|37|E}} | label-pos26=right|label26= Pipla Kasimpur| numbered26=R| mark-title26= [[Pipla Kasimpur]] (R) |shape-color26=#C40000
|mark-coord27={{coord|25|8|47|N|88|1|2|E}} | label-pos27=left|label27= Pukhuria| numbered27=R| mark-title27= [[Pukhuria]] (R) |shape-color27=#C40000
|mark-coord28={{coord|25|11|30|N|87|55|38|E}} | label-pos28=left|label28= Ratua| numbered28=R| mark-title28= [[Ratua]] (R) |shape-color28=#C40000
|mark-coord29={{coord|25|16|33|N|88|0|18|E}} | label-pos29=left|label29= Samsi| numbered29=R| mark-title29= [[Samsi, Malda]] (R) |shape-color29=#C40000
|mark-coord30={{coord|25|13|48|N|88|11|21|E}} | label-pos30=top|label30= Gazole| numbered30=R| mark-title30= [[Gazole Town]] (R) |shape-color30=#C40000
|mark-coord31={{coord|25|9|24|N|88|10|0|E}} | label-pos31=right|label31= Pandua | mark-title31= Pandua, Malda (H)| numbered31=H |shape-color31=black| label-size31=13|label-color31=black 
|mark-coord32={{coord|25|2|52|N|88|25|13|E}} | label-pos32=top|label32= Jagjivanpur | mark-title32= [[Jagjivanpur]] (H)| numbered32=H |shape-color32=#AA6666
|mark-coord33={{coord|25|17|30|N|88|4|20|E}}|label33=Mahananda|labela33= River| label-color33 = #77A1CB| label-angle33=100| label-pos33=top| label-size33=10| mark-size33=0| mark-title33 =none
|mark-coord34={{coord|25|11|30|N|87|46|30|E}}|label34= Ganges River| label-color34 = #77A1CB| label-angle34=90| label-pos34=top| label-size34=10| mark-size34=0| mark-title34 =none
|mark-coord35={{coord|25|4|0|N|88|14|0|E}}|label35= Tangon River| label-color35 = #77A1CB| label-angle35=-60| label-pos35=top| label-size35=10| mark-size35=0| mark-title35 =none
|mark-coord36={{coord|25|18|0|N|88|29|0|E}}|label36= Punarbhaba |labela36= River| label-color36 = #77A1CB| label-angle36=-75| label-pos36=top| label-size36=10| mark-size36=0| mark-title36 =none
|arc-coordA={{coord|25|6|0|N|88|29|0|E}}|arc-textA= BANGLADESH| arc-text-colorA=hard grey| arc-angleA=70| arc-gapA=4.0| arc-radiusA=0.35
|arc-coordB={{coord|25|21|0|N|87|43|0|E}}|arc-textB= BIHAR| arc-text-colorB=hard grey| arc-angleB=-100| arc-gapB=3.5| arc-radiusB=0.35
|arc-coordC={{coord|24|54|0|N|87|46|0|E}}|arc-textC= JHARKHAND| arc-text-colorC=hard grey| arc-angleC=-130| arc-gapC=5.5| arc-radiusC=0.25}}

===Location===
Pandua is located at {{Coord|25.13|N|88.16|E|format=dms}}.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=25.13312&lon=88.158867&zoom=15&q1=Pandua%252C%2520Malda%252C%2520West%2520Bengal
|title = Yahoo maps location of Pandua
|publisher = Yahoo maps
|access-date = 2008-12-21
}}</ref>

==Overview==
Pandua is now almost synonymously known as '''Adina''', a small town located about 18 km North of [[Malda, West Bengal|English Bazar]] (or Malda Town). Pandua is a historic city of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. It was the first [[capital city]] of the [[Bengal Sultanate]] for 114 years (1339–1453). It continued to be a "[[Mint (facility)|Mint town]]" until the 16th century. The capital later shifted to [[Gauda (city)|Gaur]]. Pandua was described by travelers as a cosmopolitan administrative, commercial and military base, with a population of natives, royalty, aristocrats and foreigners from across [[Eurasia]].

Pandua was a [[lost city]] until it was rediscovered by [[Francis Buchanan-Hamilton]] in 1808. A detailed study of the city was carried out by Sir [[Alexander Cunningham]]. An aerial survey was conducted in 1931 by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. The notable archaeological sites include the [[Adina Mosque]], the largest mosque in the subcontinent; the [[Eklakhi Mausoleum]]; and the Qutb Shahi Mosque.

==History==
{{Bengal Sultanate}}
Coins of the [[Balban dynasty]] of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] refer to Pandua as Firozabad, which is considered to be a reference to the reign of [[Shamsuddin Firoz Shah]]. In 1352, rebel governor [[Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah]] united the three Muslim states of Bengal into a single sultanate and founded the [[Ilyas Shahi dynasty]]. The Delhi Sultanate was pre-occupied with Mongol invasions in the northwest of India. Muslim governors in Bengal sensed an opportune time to establish an independent authority due to the considerable overland distance with Delhi. The creation of the sultanate is of primary importance in Bengali history, as it resulted in the separation of authority from Delhi and united all parts of Bengal into a single state. Pandua was the capital for the first one hundred years of the Bengal Sultanate.<ref name="Ray2016">{{cite book|author=Aniruddha Ray|title=Towns and Cities of Medieval India: A Brief Survey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4TslDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA165|date=13 September 2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-99731-7|page=165}}</ref> The city was called ''Hazrat Pandua'' due to the large presence of [[Sufi]] preachers. Pandua was a [[walled city]].

Over the course of 114 years, nine kings ruled Bengal from Pandua. All of them were from the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, with the exception of [[Raja Ganesha]], his son [[Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah]], and grandson [[Shamsuddin Ahmad Shah]]. They built palaces, forts, bridges, mosques, and mausoleums, many of which are now in ruins or have disappeared completely. Sultan [[Sikandar Shah]] commissioned the construction of the [[Adina Mosque]] after Bengal's victory in the [[Bengal Sultanate-Delhi Sultanate War]]. The Adina Mosque was modeled on the [[Great Mosque of Damascus]] and became the largest mosque in the Indian subcontinent. Sultan Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah was buried in the [[Eklakhi Mausoleum]], which is an example of [[terracotta]] [[Bengali architecture]]. The royal palace had high steps, nine walls, three gates, and a [[Durbar (court)|durbar]] room. A contemporary account describes the durbar room as having pillars plated with brass, carved, polished and ornamented with figurines of flowers and animals; the king sat cross-legged on an elevated throne decorated with precious stones and a two-edged [[sword]] laying across his lap. The Sultans of Bengal imitated [[Persianate]] court traditions.<ref>[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bengal Bengal]. [[Iranica Online]].</ref> According to the [[Ming China|Ming]] ambassador [[Ma Huan]], Pandua was transformed from a small hamlet into a cosmopolitan capital and trade center, as well as a military garrison. The population included royalty, aristocrats, soldiers, mercenaries, natives and [[Eurasian]] travelers and merchants who either settled or were a floating population along [[trade route]]s. Ma Huan wrote that "the city walls are very imposing, the bazaars well-arranged, the shops side by side, the pillars in orderly rows, they are full of every kind of goods". Pandua was a center of production and marketing. At least six varieties of fine [[muslin]], as well as [[silk]] products, were found in Pandua's markets. There were four types of [[wine]]. High-quality [[paper]] was produced from the bark of mulberry trees in the area surrounding the capital. The paper resembled lightweight white cotton cloth.<ref name="María Dolores Elizalde 2017 pp. 57">María Dolores Elizalde; Wang Jianlang (6 November 2017). China's Development from a Global Perspective. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 57–70. {{ISBN|978-1-5275-0417-2}}.</ref>

People from different parts of the known world were found in Pandua. The city generated significant [[exports]], including cloth and wine. Merchants built ships, went abroad for trade and acted as royal envoys. The rich lived lavishly in Pandua. They woke up in the morning to the tune of ''sehnai'' musicians, who would be rewarded with [[History of the taka|taka]] and wine. The noblemen entertained with dancing women. [[Paan]] was offered to visitors. The guests were served roast beef, mutton, rose water, and various kinds of [[Sharbat (beverage)|sherbet]].<ref name="María Dolores Elizalde 2017 pp. 57"/> The city's male inhabitants wore cotton robes and shirts, [[turban]]s, [[Dhoti|dhuti]]s, leather shoes and belts on the waist. Women wore cotton [[sari]]s. Upper-class women wore gold jewelry. Performers would stage performances with a chained [[tiger]]. The [[Hindu]]s did not eat beef. [[Bengali language|Bengali]] was the common language. Courtiers and merchants often spoke [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref name="María Dolores Elizalde 2017 pp. 57"/>

The capital of Bengal was shifted from Pandua to Gaur in 1450. The reasons for the shift are yet to be ascertained but a change in the course of a river has been speculated.<ref name="Ray2016"/> Pandua continued to host mints that produced silver taka for the duration of the sultanate period. It was an important administrative center. The mints were known as Shahr-i-Naw and Muzzafarabad.<ref>[https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mint_Towns Mint Towns]. [[Banglapedia]].</ref> Pandua's decline began with the conquest of [[Sher Shah Suri]]. Pandua became part of the [[wilderness]]. Earthquakes damaged its buildings during the 19th century. The high humidity and monsoon seasons of Bengal also caused much of its architecture to crumble. Nothing remains of the former royal palace except for traces in raised mounds.

==Architecture==
The architecture of Pandua has elements of [[Bengali architecture|Bengali]], [[Arab architecture|Arab]] and [[Persian architecture|Persian]] and architecture.

<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="180" caption="[[Adina Mosque]]">
File:Adina Mosque Malda (14).jpg
File:Adina Mosque exterior view.jpg
File:Adina Mosque at Malda district of West Bengal 07.jpg
File:Adina Mosque central mihrab on large basalt wall.jpg
File:Adina Mosque Badhsah ki Takht low angle shot.jpg
File:Excellent View of Adina Mosque.jpg
File:Malda adina5.jpg
File:Adina Mosque Malda (17).jpg
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="180" caption="Qutub Shahi Mosque">
File:Qutub Shahi Mosque in Pandua at Malda district 26.jpg
File:Inside the Qutab Shahi Masjid.jpg
File:Qutub Shahi Mosque at Pandua in Malda district 01.jpg
File:Exterior view of Qutub Shahi Masjid.jpg
File:Qutub Shahi Mosque at Pandua in Malda district 05.jpg
File:Qutub Shahi Mosque in Pandua at Malda district 17.jpg
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="180" caption="[[Eklakhi Mausoleum]]">
File:Eklakhi Mausoleum at Pandua in Malda district 02.jpg
File:Eklakhi Mausoleum of Pandua in Malda district 12.jpg
File:Eklakhi Mausoleum at Pandua in Malda district 25.jpg
File:Eklakhi Mausoleum at Pandua in Malda district 23.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Indo-Persian culture]]
* [[History of Bengal]]
* [[Adina Deer Park]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Gour-Pandua}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Gaud}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110525055904/http://archnet.org/library/places/one-place.jsp?place_id=8241&order_by=year&showdescription=1&collection_id=22 Pandua] in archnet.org
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110525055857/http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=7546 Adina Mosque] in archnet.org

{{Malda District}}

{{Non-extant Bengal places}}
{{Mosques in West Bengal}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bengal Sultanate]]
[[Category:Malda district]]
[[Category:Former capitals in India]]
[[Category:Capitals of Bengal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Malda district]]
[[Category:Ruins in India]]

Pandua, Malda - Revision history

TeresaGuercio23: new