The Splendid Istiqlal Mosque of Indonesia

The largest mosque in Southeast Asia, the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta was built to honor the independence of Indonesia. The word ‘Istiqlal’ stands for independence and the mosque is a reminder of the struggle of Indonesia for its independence. The mosque was first opened to the public on 22nd February 1978 and can house around 120,000 worshippers. Istiqlal is located in Central Jakarta at Jalan Taman Wijaya Kusuma and has tall minarets and a dome of 45 meters in diameter. The mosque was designed in the year 1954 by Frederich Silaban- a Christian architect from the North Sumatra province.

The grand Instiqlal mosque offers a big rectangular prayer hall that is supported by twelve round columns and has balconies of four levels. The interior of the mosque is serene and simple. You can take a good tour of the mosque with a Jakarta travel guide and get better insights into the history and significance of the mosque. The mosque was also visited by former US President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama on their brief visit to Indonesia in November 2010. The president praised the mosque for being a symbol of religious tolerance which describes the country Indonesia. 

Know more about the museum and take a virtual walk through it with Mr. Pathak- travel guide online. Make your visit to the museum a satiating one with the tips and tricks by Mr. Pathak!