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Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah Mosque: New religious tourist destination in Batam
After a long wait, Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah Mosque, with the capacity of 25,000 worshippers, finally opened in late September, also welcoming those who are traveling or vacationing in Batam.
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Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah Mosque, also known as Masjid Agung II (The Grand Mosque II) is located in the Batuaji area of Batam, Riau Islands, its building spanning 57,114 square meters on 4 hectares land. (Batam Tourism Agency/File)
M
uhammad Rudi, the mayor of Batam, Riau Islands, thought it was a good idea to build a mosque in the center of a shipyard. One of his main concerns was that most shipyard workers, who are Muslims, had to rush to the nearest mosque outside the shipyard during Friday prayers.
The workers were worried that if they returned late after Friday prayers, they would have their wages cut and their work performance considered bad.
After a long wait, Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah Mosque, with the capacity of 25,000 worshippers, finally opened in late September, also welcoming those who are traveling or vacationing in Batam.
The mosque, which is also known as Masjid Agung II (Grand Mosque II) is located in the Batuaji area of Batam, its building spanning 57,114 square meters on 4 hectares of land.
A highlight of the mosque is an observation deck equipped with telescopes, standing 99 meters high and open to the public. Visitors are able to enjoy an aerial view of Batam city and even Singapore, which is about 20 kilometers away from the island.
