Istiqlal Mosque

Masjid Istiqlal

Not far from Gambir Station and Monas is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Designed by a Christian architect, the mosque was deliberately erected in front of an older cathedral by former president Soekarno to show religious harmony and diversity. The mosque is grand and gorgeous both inside and out, virtually every element was designed meticulously to reflect philosophical meanings of the Muslim world. Be sure to wear proper attire if you are going here for the day, or a sarong can be lent if you are wearing shorts. Get a guide to explore if you are on your own, but expect to pay a tip (arrange the amount before the tour) both to the guide and to the mosque.

• history

Address

Jl. Taman Wijaya Kusuma, DKI Jakarta

Getting there

stop: Istiqlal (backdoor of the mosque) or: Juanda

Hours

24 hours daily. For non-Muslims, preferably not during prayer time (12:00, 15:30, 18:00)

Website

masjidistiqlal.or.id (opens in a new tab)