10 Facts About Sultan Balkhi

Sultan Balkhi is associated with the spread of Islam in Sandwip and Bogra.

Sultan Balkhi was the crown prince but left this role to become a follower of the religious preacher, Sheikh Tawfiq of Damascus.

One day the Sheikh ordered Sultan Balkhi to go to the land of Bengal and preach the religion of Islam there.

Sultan Balkhi then set off by boat, eventually reaching the island of Sandwip where he remained in for a number of years.

Sultan Balkhi's boat was a barge and shaped like a fish; leading to him earning the nickname of Mahi-sawar.

Sultan Balkhi then went to Hariramnagar, most likely another island, which was ruled by Balaram, a Hindu Raja who worshipped Kali.

Sultan Balkhi then decided to leave Hariramnagar so he leaped on his boat, reaching the ancient city of Mahasthangarh, the capital of the Pundravardhana kingdom, ruled by Narsingh Parshuram of the Bhoj Garh dynasty.

Sultan Balkhi asked Parshuram for permission to live in his domain and freely practice his religion to which the King allowed.

Sultan Balkhi preached to the native Buddhists and Chilhan, the army chief of Raja Parshuram, amongst many others accepted the message of Islam.

The Mughals paid great attention to the shrine and built a gate entry to Sultan Balkhi's mausoleum called Buri Ka Darwaza.