Thursday, November 01, 2007

Sumantri-Travel Experience article - Istiglal Mosque








Jakarta September 2007


Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. The government of Indonesia constructed the national mosque in 1984. More than 120,000 people can congregate at the mosque at one time.The rectangular main prayer hall building is covered by a 45 meter diameter central spherical dome. The dome is supported by twelve round columns and the prayer hall lined by rectangular piers carrying four levels of balcony. Staircases at the corners of the building give access to all floors. The main hall is reached through an entrance covered by a dome 10 meters in diameter. The latter structure is directly connected to the arcades which run around the large courtyard. The mosque also provides facilities for social and cultural activities, including lectures, exhibitions, seminars, conferences, bazaars and programmes for women, youth and children. (taken from wikimapia). It was wonderful experinece for both of us to spent ashar time at this mosque.

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