Kolkata features remarkable Islamic architecture including the grand Nakhoda Mosque modeled after Akbar's tomb, and the historic Tipu Sultan Mosque with its distinctive minarets. The city played a significant role in Islamic scholarship and culture during British colonial rule, becoming a center for Islamic reform movements and Urdu literature. Today's Muslim community, representing about 27% of the population, continues to enrich Kolkata's cultural landscape through traditional crafts, poetry, music, and the famous culinary heritage of Old Dhaka Street and surrounding areas.