Great Mosque of Medan, Grand mosque in Medan, Indonesia
The Great Mosque of Medan stands in the city center and shows an eight-sided base with four wings extending toward north, south, east, and west. The central dome is surrounded by several smaller domes that give the building a multi-layered silhouette.
Sultan Mamun Al Rashid commissioned the construction in 1906 and allocated a budget of one million guilders. The work took three years and the building was completed in September 1909.
The name refers to the religious importance of the building for the city and its worshippers, who gather here for communal prayer. Visitors can observe in the courtyards and prayer halls the blend of Moorish arches and Indian ornamentation that gives the architecture a Mediterranean-Asian appearance.
The building offers space for around 2000 worshippers and has several entrances at the corners that ease access from all sides. Visitors should wear modest clothing and be mindful of prayer times to avoid disrupting the flow.
The interior spaces display Italian marble floors, French crystal chandeliers, and stained glass windows from the art nouveau period. These materials were imported from Europe during the colonial era and lend the building an unusual character.
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