Description of the attraction
The Istiklal Mosque in Jakarta is considered one of the largest mosques in Southeast Asia - the building can accommodate about 120,000 people.
The national mosque was built to commemorate Indonesia's independence and was named istiklal, which means independence in Arabic. Indonesia became independent in 1949, and the construction of the mosque only began in 1961. It was decided to build a mosque on the site of the fortification, the citadel of Prince Federic, built in the mid-19th century and demolished in the 1960s. The construction of the mosque took 17 years, the grand opening of the mosque took place on February 22, 1978. Near the mosque is Merdeka Square and Jakarta Cathedral.
The mosque has seven gates. Inside the mosque there is a prayer hall and special rooms where ritual ablutions are performed. There is also a patio. The mosque consists of two interconnected rectangular structures: the main structure and the second, smaller in size. The main building is crowned with a spherical dome with a diameter of 45 meters. The dome is decorated with a steel decorative spire with a crescent and a star. Another building is also covered with a dome. The dome is supported by twelve round columns, the prayer hall is surrounded by rectangular columns, the balconies are located on four tiers.
There is a madrasah and a ceremonial hall at the mosque. In addition, the mosque hosts seminars, social and cultural events.
