I'm amazed by how beautifully constructed houses of worship are! Be it mosques, churches, temples, and more. Of course, it's not just about religion and worship. It's more than that.
Houses of worship, especially mosques, have interesting architectural designs. Therefore, mosques are also often used as religious tourism destinations. This time, I'll share the beauty of a mosque I discovered while traveling to a small village in Central Java.
The Jami' Istiqomah Mosque is located in Banyumas City, Central Java Province. I found this mosque not only beautiful but also the beautiful scenery surrounding it, which visitors can enjoy when they stop around it along the way.
This mosque is located in a small town, so there aren't many activities or visitors. However, there are still interesting programs at this mosque that make it a top spot on my list of must-visit mosques.
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I passed through rice fields before entering the mosque. A stunning mountain was visible. Indeed, from Banyumas City, we can see Mount Slamet.
Then, I was a little surprised when I was about to enter the mosque gate. Mount Slamet loomed majestically behind the mosque, even though it was only small.
So, I took a photo of the mosque with a view from outside the mosque gate, specifically from the side of the mosque. It looked so beautiful! I felt like my unexpected trip had yielded a big, beautiful surprise.
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Meanwhile, to the side of the mosque, there was a fairly spacious public area. It was an open field, complete with a semi-outdoor meeting room in a traditional Central Javanese style.
You can see in my photos that there are various colorful decorations to beautify the field area.
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There was also a seating area for resting, cool because of the many shady trees.
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Then, I moved into the front area of the mosque. The front area was quite spacious. The mosque's nameplate was beautifully engraved.
Then, there was something else interesting here. It turns out there's a replica of the Kaaba in Mecca at the front. This can be used for children to learn about the structure of the Kaaba before they someday perform Umrah or Hajj.
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I think this mosque will help the local villagers, especially the children who attend school next to the mosque (there's a children's school, as when I arrived, I saw children attending school).
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Next, as a final step, I visited the interior of the mosque. Although it's not a large mosque, it appears well-maintained. It's clean, and the interior feels cool.
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There's a drum, a drum that's played to signal specific prayer times, usually used during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Overall, the mosque looks minimalist yet dignified. I rested here for a while before continuing my journey.
I enjoyed the beautiful views around the mosque. I also felt a sense of tranquility, as this is a small town. The sound of motorized vehicles is rare.
I'm grateful to have found this mosque. A beautiful mosque to visit. I'm grateful to be able to share this travel story with you. I hope you enjoyed my trip.
