Istiqlal Mosque- An Architectural Masterpiece

Jakarta is a hot, steamy city that is the proud capital of Indonesia. Despite being an oven pot of heat with its freeways bottlenecked in traffic and a city layout unable to escape its own disarray, it still remains a city full of the unexpected. Among the attractions in central Jakarta, the National Monument, Taman Proklemasi, National Museum, Textile Museum, St Mary's Cathedral and not to forget the Mesjid Istiqlal Mosque are a must see for any tourist.
The Mesjid Istiqlal Mosque is one of the biggest mosques in South East Asia. Located in Central Jakarta on the notable Lapangan Banteng Square, Istiqlal, which means "freedom", was designed to accommodate 250,000 people, doing justice to the staggering number of people who come there to pray especially on the holiest of days. The scale of this monument is not surprising in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Non-Muslims may enter the mosque with a guide and take in the vast expanse of this architectural structure whose interior is carpeted in a striking red hue. A chutri-like dome tops the entrance building to the prayer hall, connecting to the arcades that line the expansive courtyard.
Designed by Frederich Silaban for the Indonesian Government, the construction of the mosque was completed in 1978. The primary aim for such a mosque was to give Indonesia a national mosque, thereby marking the independence of Indonesia from The Netherlands. Its status as a national mosque is further emphasised by the alignment of its courtyard with the National Monument. The main prayer hall is a rectangular building consisting of four storeys lined with overhanging balconies on the upper floors and is covered by a spherical dome that measures 45 meters in diameter. Access to all the floors are provided via the staircases located in each corner.
Besides being a center of prayer for the Muslim population, it also provides facilities for other activities such as seminars, conferences, exhibitions, bazaars and programs for the community.

Visitors to this mammoth city looking to take in its tourist offerings can stay at a Jakarta corporate housing option which caters to your needs. For exquisite luxury accommodation Jakarta book your stay at Ascott Jakarta, a slice of heaven in the heart of the city.