It doesn't feel like it's the last time I visited one of the largest mosques in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. This mosque is named Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. Located in the westernmost province of Indonesia, namely Aceh and this mosque is also in the city of Banda Aceh. The mosque which is the pride of the Acehnese people and the icon of the city of Banda Aceh. If you visit the city of Banda Aceh, it won't be complete if you don't come to this mosque.

One year ago my family and I came to Banda Aceh for medical purposes and had the opportunity to come to the Baiturrahman mosque to pray and try to capture some of the beautiful moments of the Baiturrahman mosque. To be honest, when you enter the mosque it feels very cool and certainly very beautiful. I pray in this mosque, I want to feel like I don't want to leave the mosque because it makes us feel at home in it.

Baiturrahman Mosque was strong during the 2004 Aceh earthquake and tsunami

( The condition of the mosque during the 2004 Aceh Indonesia earthquake and tsunami )

Do you still remember the Aceh Indonesia earthquake and tsunami that occurred on December 24, 2004 at 8 am? which has destroyed the entire city of Banda Aceh and has killed as many as 120 thousand victims and can also be felt in 11 other countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and several other countries and killed as many as 250 thousand people.

But what really amazed me was when the building collapsed all the objects were swept away by a very powerful tsunami wave due to the magnitude of the 9.8 on the Richter scale earthquake. But not with the baiturrahman mosque, it is very strong, no buildings have collapsed or been damaged, and what really can't stop thinking is that all the rubbish, even corpses lying scattered about, were swept away by the currents of the stun waves, this mosque remained sturdy, and some even made the mosque a shelter and many survived while they were inside. this mosque.

The design of the baiturrahman mosque is very beautiful, magnificent and elegant

( In this image my family and I visited the baiturrahman mosque last 2022 )

The Baiturrahman Mosque has done a lot of renovations to make it as beautiful as it is today, especially after the earthquake and tsunami disaster hit Aceh, many donors wanted to donate to this mosque. And the architectural style of this mosque was inspired by mosques in other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, Spain, etc. Even the gate when entering the courtyard of this mosque is Dutch style. Even the materials that were built in this mosque such as floors with white marble from Italy. The architect who designed the new Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was a Dutch army captain named Gerrit van Bruins.

( The Replica of the Baiturrahman )

Because it is so beautiful and majestic, the architect of the mosque is made a miniature

The replica of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is located in the world's largest miniature park called Minimundus Park in Klagenfurt, Karintia, Austria. The building on the replica looks very similar to the original. This miniature uses a 1:25 scale.

A short historical story about the baiturrahman grand mosque

( Image of mosques that have undergone many renovations )

This mosque was first built in 1612 during the reign of the Aceh sultanate by Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607 - 1636). Another history says this mosque was founded by Sultan Alaidin Mahmudsyah during the reign of Sultan Nurul Alam (1675 - 1678).

From the various differences in the year it was first established. The Baiturrahman Mosque was burned by the Dutch during the war between the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Aceh in 1873. To quell the anger of the Acehnese people. The governor at that time led by general Van Lansberge promised the people of Aceh to rebuild a new mosque

Finally, the Netherlands fulfilled its promise. And the laying of the first stone to rebuild the Baiturrahman Mosque was carried out in 1879 and completed in 1881 with one dome and one minaret. And declare Aceh and the Netherlands at peace.

The people of Aceh had rejected this mosque because it was built by the Dutch because it was considered an enemy. In the end, this mosque became the pride of the Acehnese people. Then the minarets and domes were added in 1936, 1958, 1992. Currently the mosque has 7 domes and 8 minarets.

So, the baiturrahman mosque has a long history for the people of Aceh, especially Indonesia, in defending Indonesia's independence at that time

I hope one day still given the opportunity to visit this mosque because of the location from where I spent up to 6 hours.

Image from some source and private collections