The Istiqlal Mosque

Home to 237 millions, Indonesia is the World's fourth largest country by population size. By far, Indonesia has the most populous Muslim-majority - a staggering 90 percent or more than 200 millions.



From conception to completion, Istiqlal Mosque took 20-long years to build. The notion of having a National Mosque was conceived by a muslim scholar named K. H. Wahid Hasyim. Indonesia's founding father - Soekarno - supported the idea and initated the construction. Through rounds of contest and competition, a concept by a Christian architect was selected.

The Mosque with its grandeur architecture is able to take a total mass congregation of more than 120 thousands. Today, Istiqlal Mosque is the largest in the region. The main prayer hall is covered by a huge dome with a diameter size of 45 meters. The minaret (refer to Arabic lighthouse) height of close to 700 meters allows anyone from far to spot this distinct holy religious compound. During his less than 24-hours trip to Indonesia, US President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Istiqlal Mosque.

During major Islamic festivities and religious calendar, hundreds of thousands of muslims - some who come from outside Jakarta - flock the Mosque to pray and listen to leading Islamic scholars speak.

Standing next to the Cathedral, this picture displays the attitudes of Indonesian majority towards religious tolerance, respect and harmony. So, if you would like to see the region's largest Mosque, head your way to Istiqlal Mosque the next time you are in Jakarta.