Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia is the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia. Thw Istiqlal Mosque stands across the street from the Catholic Jakarta Cathedral, and both places of worship stand next to Merdeka Square, home to Monas (Independence Monument) which towers over them both. This national mosque was built to commemorate Indonesian independence, and named “Istiqlal”, which is an Arabic word for “independence. This magnificent structure and architecture of modern Islam style building is beautifully complete with marble tiles and poles and the huge stainless steel dome. The Keraton at the Plaza is one of the most luxurious five star hotels in Jakarta. The Keraton Plaza boasts a prestigious Jalan Thamrin address, which is situated opposite to the extravagant and lavish shops of Plaza Indonesia. The Keraton Plaza has exquisitely 140 appointed suites and guestrooms which are comfortable and luxurious. This prestigious plaza is located within close proximity to the Istiqlal Mosque.
Istiqlal Mosque of Jakarta is the largest mosque in South East Asia both in structure and capacity, as it can accommodate up to 120,000 people. The sheer scale of the mosque will be a beautiful sight and many tourists will be awed by the size of the mosque. The mosque covers a nine-hectare area, where the structure has five levels, with a massive prayer hall at the center. The main structure is flanked with plazas on the south side. The rectangular main prayer hall building is covered by a 45 meter diameter central spherical dome. The dome is supported by twelve round columns and the prayer hall is surrounded by rectangular piers carrying four levels of balcony. On the ground floor, there are mosque offices and function halls. The mosque provides facilities for cultural and social activities.
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.Google+