Istiqlal Mosque

Masjid Istiqlal

The largest mosque in Southeast Asia, accommodating 200,000 people. An underground 'Friendship Tunnel' links it to the Catholic cathedral across the road, a symbol of Indonesia's religious tolerance.

Istiqlal (Arabic for 'independence') Mosque was built to commemorate Indonesia's independence. It was designed by the Christian architect Friedrich Silaban, construction began in 1961, and it was completed in 1978. It covers 9.5 hectares. The giant dome of the main prayer hall, 45 meters in diameter and symbolizing the year of independence, 1945, is supported by 12 stainless-steel-clad columns. Including its five levels of galleries and the courtyard, it can hold 200,000 people, making it the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest in the world. The exterior is a white modernist geometric form. Inside, the marble and clean steel lines contrast sharply with Middle Eastern-style mosques. The mosque was deliberately built opposite the neo-Gothic Jakarta Cathedral, completed in 1901. In 2021, an underground 'Friendship Tunnel' opened between the two, symbolizing the coexistence of many faiths. During Eid al-Fitr, the cathedral provides parking for mosque worshippers. Non-Muslim visitors can tour for free. Register at the visitor entrance, then follow a set route with a volunteer guide (in English, about 30–45 minutes). Robes and headscarves are provided. Women must cover their hair, everyone must wear long trousers or a long skirt, and shoes must be removed. After the visit, walk across to the cathedral (open outside Sunday Mass) and its small museum, then continue 10 minutes to Monas. Getting there: a 5-minute walk from the Transjakarta Juanda stop or the Juanda commuter station. Note: visits are suspended during prayer times, especially Friday from 11:30 to 13:30. Visiting hours are shortened during Ramadan and around Eid al-Fitr. Do not photograph worshippers during prayer in the prayer hall.

Istiqlal Mosque

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