Grand Friday Mosque located in the capital city of Maldives is not just another place of worship but a compelling cultural highlight. You should specifically add this to your list of cultural sightseeing while visiting the beautiful land of Maldives. Linger under the lovely attractions of Kandolhu Island, Maldives to create unforgettable memories in breathtaking Maldives villas.
The distinctive golden dome dazzling in the skyline of Malé dominates the city as a valuable symbol of art and culture in the country. This impressive beauty is set in the centre of the city, opposite the famous Sultan’s Park. It is officially named Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam after the one of the highly respected Maldivian heroes and it was opened for worship in 1984.
The Grand Friday Mosque is an outstanding architectural specimen constructed with white marble and decorated with the simplicity of plainness. The interior walls showcase fascinating wood carvings as well as Arabic calligraphy that can make your eyes pop out. The exquisite woven carpets and amazing light chandeliers are contributing factors to enhance the elegance of this setting.
Furthermore, this wonderful location houses an immense prayer hall, a conference hall, a library and classrooms. The prayer hall is massive to accommodate nearly 5000 worshippers. Thus, it has been named the largest Mosque in the country as well as the largest Mosque in the south East region. Moreover, the conference hall also holds importance as it has held many important national meetings.
Generally, all visitors take their time to visit this magnificent landmark. Some prefer to admire the beauty on a boat ride, especially to witness the golden dome glinting under the bright sun. However, you should visit this setting between 9 am and 5 pm. In addition, keep in mind to avoid the general prayer times.
On a concluding note, make sure to be decently dressed if you desire to visit this religious setting and do remember that casual wanderers are not welcomed here. Thus, be prepared and avoid disappointments!
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.