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Istiqlal Mosque remains popular amid ongoing renovations
Extensive renovation of Istiqlal Mosque has closed some access and disturbed visitors, but many hope that when the work is completed they will have a better mosque.
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Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta. (Shutterstock/Herdik Herlambang)
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rand and iconic, Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta is to reveal its new facilities and revamped façade next year as renovations are now underway, even as worshippers still frequent the mosque with the disturbances caused by the construction work all around them.
The renovation project, the most extensive one since the mosque was opened in 1978, kicked off in May during Ramadan.
No closures were implemented, as visitors can still gather, pray and recite the Quran as usual. However, several entrance gates are closed because of the work, leaving only the main entrance open, the southwest Ar-Rahman Gate that has parking spaces available nearby.
During The Jakarta Post’s recent visit, the Ar-Rahman gate was crowded with a variety of visitors ranging from foreign tourists and schoolchildren to Muslims seeking to pray.
The main entrance to the mosque compound was blocked by multiple cranes and other pieces of heavy equipment operating in the area to expand the parking lot.
Construction workers were walking back and forth in the area carrying a variety of construction tools.
Some were hanging on the exterior wall of the mosque grinding away at the old marble tiles covering it.The results were apparent, with some previously brown-stained marble restored to white.
