Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta

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Visit the biggest mosque of South East Asia!
Masjid Istiqlal is indeed the biggest mosque of South East Asia, and this is nothing than normal, as Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country of the world (in number of inhabitants!) It looks quite big when viewed from top of the Monas Tower, but most impressive is the small size of the cathedral you can see just behind on the first picture.
Very good and interesting is that it is possible for non-Muslims to visit the mosque; I took off my sandals at the entrance, looked at the signs, washed my feet like the worshippers, and. . . soon a guide offered me to guide me and give some explanations about the mosque. In fact, except for praying, you cannot access the main praying area, but you can walk on a wide open balcony above.
Istiqlal means “Independence” as this mosque has been built also to commemorate the independence of Indonesia, and that mosque had to be a real big one! A big one, but also light structures through which you can see the Monas tower (picture 2), located on Merdeka square (Monas stands for National Monument, and Merdeka is “Freedom”), all is a matter of symbols.
The big dome (picture 3) has a diameter of 45 m, and the minaret is 90 metres high.
The men’s section of the main praying room (picture 4) can host 20.000 worshippers, and 10.000 women can fit in their paying room (picture 5). The general view from outside shows this building is quite massive and you see the big pillars in the praying rooms, which not only support the roof and cupola, but also wide balconies; there are 4 levels of balconies, and they can accommodate 40.000 worshippers.
Hey, they say the mosque can accommodate 120.000 worshippers on Hari Raya (Glorious day, Aid ul Fitr, end of Ramadhan) ! Where is the space for the remaining 50.000? Answer in next tip!

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This stately national mosque is Southeast Asia’s largest mosque and positioned on the corner of Merdeka Square. About 90% of the Indonesia people are Moslems. You may experience the amplified chanting from the Istiqlal minaret, echoed by hundreds of other smaller mosques throughout the city to call Jakarta’s citizen to pray five times a day.

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In the very centre of Jakarta you will find the biggest Mosque of the whole of South East Asia: the Istiqlal Mosque. This beautiful white building was constructed between 1961 and 1967, although the building wasn't opened before 1978, by the former president Soekarno. The building was designed by a christian architect, and was completely made of a white marble, taken from the East of the island of Java.

The area of the mosque takes a surface of 9 and a half hectares. The mainbuilding is a 5 stores high, square building, roofed by a dome with a diameter of 45 metres. The mainentrance has a dome of 10 metres of diameter. Inside the building not only has praying areas for more then 120.000 people at the same time. There also are spaces for bazaars, conferences, education and other social purposes.

At the other side of the large square inside the area, you will see the tall minaret. Right down that tower a big drum is located. This drum is used for the Friday Prayers and was made in Borneo. All over the square you see lines pointing towards Mecca, used during the prayers.

For a small tip, the quards at the entrance are very willing to show you everything inside and tell a lot about it, proud to share their culture with other people.

Istiqlal Mosque is Indonesia's national mosque as well as the largest in east asia. Around 90% of Indonesians are Muslims, making Indonesia the largest Muslim country in the world.

The mosque itself has a modern design and could be mistaken for an office building if not for the large dome and tall minaret.

The biggest mosque in South-East Asia. can accommodate more than 10,000 people and 800 vehicles. there are five level, all wakways, floor and wall covered with marble from tulungagung. official opening in 1978 by second President of Indonesia Soeharto. The erected inspiration cames from Indonesia's first president Soekarno and Ironically Soekarno choose christian architec.

beside the istiqlal mosque,you can also visit the cathedral;java is a moslem island,but it was a former dutch colony,so christian;and hinduism and buddhism are the ancient backgrounds of the javanese culture